What type of evidence does cosmic background radiation provide about the origins of the universe?(1 point) Responses It proves that the universe is expanding. It proves that the universe is expanding. It supports predictions of the composition of the early universe. It supports predictions of the composition of the early universe. It pinpoints the size of the original universe. It pinpoints the size of the original universe. It verifies that the early universe was once extremely hot.
It verifies that the early universe was once extremely hot.
The cosmic background radiation provides evidence for three key aspects of the origins of the universe:
1. It supports predictions of the composition of the early universe.
2. It verifies that the early universe was once extremely hot.
3. It proves that the universe is expanding.
Cosmic background radiation provides strong evidence about the origins of the universe. To understand why, we need to delve into the field of cosmology.
First, let's explain how cosmic background radiation is detected. Scientists use specialized instruments, such as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) detectors, to measure the faint radiation that permeates the entire universe. This radiation, called cosmic microwave background radiation, is a relic from the early stages of the universe, when it was very hot and dense. As the universe expanded, this radiation cooled down and is now observable as microwaves.
Now, let's look at the implications of cosmic background radiation:
1. It supports the idea of an expanding universe: By studying the cosmic background radiation, scientists have gathered evidence that the universe is indeed expanding. This is known as the cosmological redshift, which is a shift in the wavelength of light due to the expansion of space. The discovery of this redshift was a key piece of evidence for the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe started from an extremely hot and dense state and has been expanding ever since.
2. It supports predictions of the early universe's composition: The observed cosmic background radiation matches the predictions made by the Big Bang theory regarding the composition of the early universe. According to the theory, in the initial stages of the universe, matter and radiation were tightly coupled. As the universe expanded and cooled, the radiation decoupled from matter, forming the cosmic background radiation. The measurements of the cosmic background radiation align with the predictions, supporting our understanding of the early universe's composition.
3. It verifies the early universe was extremely hot: The cosmic background radiation is not only consistent with the predictions of an expanding universe and the composition of the early universe but also confirms that the early universe was once extremely hot. The measured temperature of the cosmic background radiation is approximately 2.7 Kelvin (-270.45 degrees Celsius or -454.81 degrees Fahrenheit), which corresponds to a state of high energy and temperature in the past.
4. It does not directly pinpoint the size of the original universe: While cosmic background radiation provides valuable insights into the early universe, it does not directly pinpoint the size of the original universe. However, it does give us information about the current observable universe, its expansion, and the conditions shortly after the Big Bang.
To summarize, cosmic background radiation provides evidence that the universe is expanding, supports predictions of the composition of the early universe, and verifies the high temperature of the early universe. While it does not directly pinpoint the size of the original universe, it yields crucial information for our understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe.