How does weak background radiation coming from every direction in the sky support the Big Bang Theory?
a. it provides evidence of universe contraction
b. it provides evidence of the universe's increasing mass
c. it provides evidence of the universe's decreasing mass
d. it provides evidence of universe expansion
d. it provides evidence of universe expansion
The correct answer is d. It provides evidence of universe expansion.
The weak background radiation coming from every direction in the sky is known as the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB). This radiation is considered the remnants of the early universe, specifically the afterglow of the Big Bang. It was first discovered in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery.
The presence of the CMB is a crucial piece of evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory, which is the prevailing scientific explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe. According to this theory, the universe started from an extremely hot and dense state about 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since.
The CMB radiation supports the idea of universe expansion because it exhibits a characteristic pattern called the cosmic microwave background spectrum. This spectrum shows that the radiation is almost completely uniform, with small variations in temperature. These temperature fluctuations provide valuable information about the structure and composition of the early universe.
The uniformity of the CMB supports the concept of expansion because it suggests that, early in its history, the universe underwent a period of rapid expansion known as inflation. During this inflationary period, tiny quantum fluctuations that existed in the early universe were stretched out to larger scales, resulting in the temperature variations we observe in the CMB.
In summary, the weak background radiation, or cosmic microwave background radiation, supports the Big Bang Theory by providing evidence of universe expansion.
d. it provides evidence of universe expansion
The weak background radiation coming from every direction in the sky, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB), is one of the major pieces of evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory. This radiation is thought to be remnants of the initial intense burst of energy that occurred during the Big Bang, which has since cooled down and spread out uniformly across the universe.
The presence of the CMB supports the idea of an expanding universe rather than a contracting one. As the universe expands, the wavelengths of the radiation are stretched, causing it to shift towards longer wavelengths or lower frequencies. This phenomenon is known as redshift.
The redshift observed in the cosmic microwave background radiation suggests that the universe was once much denser and hotter in the past, supporting the idea that the universe has been expanding since the Big Bang. Therefore, the weak background radiation supports the concept of universe expansion, which is a key aspect of the Big Bang Theory.