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Big Bang, Black Holes, No Math ASTR/PHYS 109 Dr
Big Bang, Black Holes, No Math ASTR/PHYS 109 Dr. David Toback Lecture 16
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Was Due Today – L16 Reading: (BBBHNM Unit 3)
Pre-Lecture Reading Questions: PLRQ Unit 3 Revision (if desired), Stage 1 due Wednesday before class End-of-Chapter Quizzes: Chapter 10 Papers: Paper 1 Revision (if desired), Stage 1 due Wednesday before class (Text needs to be in turnitin on eCampus) Paper 2, Stage 2 due Wednesday before class Honors Paper: Stage 1 must be approved explicitly Stage 2 due Monday March 30
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Overview Finished: The Exploding Universe This Time: Expansion of Space-Time and General Relativity After That: Photons and Hydrogen in the Universe
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General Relativity and Expanding Space-Time
Outline General Relativity and Expanding Space-Time Expanding Space and Red-Shifts
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Recapping the Data Galaxies are moving away from us, faster if they are further away AND moving the SAME WAY same way in ALL DIRECTIONS Simple-but-wrong explanation: We are the center of an explosion!
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Not consistent with other data Need a better explanation!
Is this right? Only consistent this data if we’re at the center of the Universe and not moving Not consistent with other data Need a better explanation!
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General Relativity to the Rescue
Space-time can change E.g. Mass causes it to curve and stretch What if space-time is expanding?
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Expanding Space Analogy:
Analogy: A loaf of raisin bread where the dough is rising and expanding, taking the raisins with it
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Another Example of Expanding Space
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Balloon Analogy Our Universe doesn’t have any over all curvature, but thinking of Space-Time like the SURFACE of a balloon is something you can try at home Balloon is a two dimensional example/analogy There is no inside, space IS just the surface As space-time expands, the distance between any two spots increases, but there is no spot ON THE SURFACE that is the center of the expansion
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Expanding Space
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The Expanding Universe
It’s not just galaxies moving through space Space is expanding, carrying the galaxies along!
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Galaxies Moving in Space
Space is like a river carrying boats along Line is like the speed of the river Stuff above the line Galaxies that are moving “away” from us in space Stuff below the line Galaxies moving “towards” us
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Velocity? How does this explain why things are moving FASTER the further away they are? As the radius of the balloon increases, the farther apart the spots on the balloon, the faster they will be moving apart
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More on Expanding Space-Time and Raisin Bread
Distance
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Expanding Space-Time and Red-shifts
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Photons in Expanding Space-Time
Since space is so empty, light from 10 billion years ago can reach us just fine What happens to photons as they travel in the Universe? The wavelength gets stretched as space expands The wavelength gets longer
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What do photons look like in Expanding Space-Time?
A distant galaxy emits a short wavelength photon towards our galaxy billions of years ago The Grid shows space
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Space-Time Expands The expansion of space-time stretches the photon to longer wavelengths as it travels The Grid is bigger now
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Space-Time Expands More
The farther the photon has traveled, the more it is stretched Still bigger
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How We Observe It When the photon arrives at our galaxy we see it with a larger wavelength The bigger the distance the more red-shifted it has become! Even bigger as time goes by
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Red Shifts in an Expanding Universe
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Expanding Space-Time Explains all the data (and more in next Chapter)
Note: Implies that the Universe look the same to “everyone” in the Universe “everywhere” Call this the Cosmological Principle
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No Center of the Universe?
I’m the center of expansion! Everyone moves away from me! Nowhere on the surface can be called the center No “center” of the Universe Or can consider “Everywhere” to be the “center” of expansion Yes… As we’ve always known, Aggieland IS the center of the Universe There is no “Before” the Big Bang Space and time come into existence together No! I’m the center of expansion! Everyone moves away from me!
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How big IS the Universe? We can’t really know how big the Universe is, since all we can see is back a certain distance in TIME Could be infinite We talk about the Visible Universe
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Next… Move to more evidence we live in an expanding space-time by looking at photons and hydrogen in the Universe
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For Next Time– L16 Reading: (BBBHNM Unit 3)
Pre-Lecture Reading Questions: PLRQ Unit 3 Revision (if desired), Stage 1 due Wednesday before class End-of-Chapter Quizzes: If we finished Chapter 11 then end-of-chapter quiz 11 (else just up to Chapter 10) Papers: Paper 1 Revision (if desired), Stage 1 due Wednesday before class (Text needs to be in turnitin on eCampus) Paper 2, Stage 2 due Wednesday before class Honors Paper: Stage 1 must be approved explicitly Stage 2 due Monday March 30
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Full set of Readings So Far
Required: BBBHNM: Chaps. 1-12 Recommended: TFTM: Chaps. 1-3 BHOT: Chaps. 1-7, 9 and 11 ( ) SHU: Chaps. 1-3, 4(77-86), 5(95-104), 6, 7 (up-to-page 153) TOE: Chaps. 1 & 2
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End of Lecture
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Clicker Question Let’s say you were the person observing the galaxies, but each other person in the room were a galaxy. Which person in the room is moving away from you most quickly? Back left Back right Front left Front right
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Clicker Question Which of the following is the best ranking for the speeds (from fastest to slowest) at which galaxies A, C, and D would be moving away from an observer in galaxy B? A > C > D D > A > C C > D > A D > C > A C A B E Early Universe Universe Some Time Later D
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Clicker Question Are the Earth and Sun moving away from each other since space-time is expanding? Yes. It is just a matter of time before the Earth will leave the Sun's orbit. Yes, but the gravitational attraction between the two keeps them at the same distance No, because the Sun is big enough to prevent space-time from expanding locally No, because the only thing that matters is that the Earth is attracted to the Sun
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Clicker Question Let's say I have two galaxies in space and they are exactly stationary relative to each other. What will happen next? Since they are so massive that they will attract each other by gravity and start moving towards each other. Since space-time is expanding, the distance between them will grow as space-time expands so they will start moving away from each other. It depends on the overall distance between them.
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Clicker Question If space-time is expanding, is our galaxy expanding?
Yes. Everything in the universe is moving away from everything else. No. It isn't expanding because the gravitational attraction of masses pulls the galaxy back together again
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Clicker Question If space-time is expanding, are atoms expanding?
Yes. Everything in the universe is moving away from everything else. No, they aren't expanding because the electric charge attraction and quantum mechanics keep the atoms the same size in space
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Clicker Question For the most distant galaxies, which is true?
Most of the red-shift of their spectral lines is because they are moving very fast through space Most of the red-shift of their spectral lines is because space is expanding
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For Next Time– L15 Reading: (BBBHNM Unit 3)
Pre-Lecture Reading Questions: Let us know if you were misgraded End-of-Chapter Quizzes: If we finished Chapter 11 then end-of-chapter quiz 11 (else just up to Chapter 10) Papers: Paper 1 Revision (if desired), Stage 1 due Wednesday before class (Text needs to be in turnitin on eCampus) Paper 2, Stage 2 due before class Monday Honors Paper: Stage 1 due tonight before midnight
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Prep for next time – L17 Reading: BBBHNM: 13
Pre-Lecture Reading Questions: Chapter 13 End of Chapter Quizzes: Chapter 11 (if we finished 11, if not, just 10) Papers: Paper 0 Revision: Was due before class. Let us know if you think you were mis-graded Paper 1: Still working on re-grades. Paper 1 Revision: If you want to do a revision, due Wednesday before class. Paper 2: Calibrations/Reviews are due Wednesday before class Honors Paper: Stage 0 approval required
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Prep for Today (Is now due) – L15
Reading: BBBHNM 12 Reading questions: Chapter 12 End-of-Chapter Quizzes: Chapter 10 Paper Stuff Paper 2: CPR Calibrations and reviews due today
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Was due before Class – L17 Reading: BBBHNM: 12
Pre-Lecture Reading Questions: Chapter 12 End of Chapter Quizzes: Chapter 10 Papers: Paper 0 Revision: Was due before class. Let us know if you think you were mis-graded Paper 1: Still working on re-grades. Paper 1 Revision: If you want to do a revision, due Wednesday before class. Paper 2: Calibrations/Reviews are due Wednesday before class Honors Paper: Stage 0 approval required
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Prep For Next Time – L7 Note: May change depending on how far we get in lecture Reading: BBBHNM: All reading through Chapter 13 Reading Questions: All reading questions through 13 eLearning Quizzes: If we finished Chapter 11 then end-of-chapter quiz 11 (else just through Chapter 10) Papers: Paper 2 calibrations and reviews due before class on Tuesday
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Prep for Next Time – P14 Reading: BBBHNM 12 Reading questions:
Chapter 12 End-of-Chapter Quizzes: If we finished Chapter 11 then end-of-chapter quiz 11 (else just 10) Papers: Text was due Yesterday at 5:45PM Calibrations/Reviews due Monday March 19
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Prep for Next Time – P15 Reading: BBBHNM 12 Reading questions:
Chapter 12 End-of-Chapter Quizzes: If we finished Chapter 11 then end-of-chapter quiz 11 (else just 10) Paper Stuff Paper 2: CPR Calibrations and reviews due today
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Prep for Today (Is now due) – L14
Reading: BBBHNM 11 Reading questions: Chapter 11 End-of-Chapter Quizzes: Chapter 9 Paper Stuff Paper 1 Revision: CPR due Fri 6PM Paper 2 Submission: Wed 4PM in CPR
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Frequently Asked Question Page
I have created a new webpage on the main course page I’ve tried to take all the questions I keep getting and put answers to them there Please read it and send fixes, comments, questions and requests for additions In the future, you might check there if you have a question about the course before ing If it’s there, I’ll probably point you there in the first place
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Paper 2 Revisions Will allow Paper 2 revisions
I was REALLY pleased by some of the great papers Then again, some really weren’t good If you are not going to submit a good paper, then we aren’t going to give you a chance to revise If you aren’t doing well with calibrations, we expect you to ask for help
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Final Note General Relativity doesn’t really explain WHY this expansion occurs, but expanding space is perfectly allowed Thus, the expansion could occur since its only SPACE that is expanding
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Our Best Understanding
Thus, either we believe we’re at the center of an explosion or take seriously the idea that we’re part of an expanding Space-Time More evidence that we’re part of an expanding space-time?
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What if we Think about it Differently
Maybe it just “looks” like we’re at the center of the Universe and not moving Could this be true? Could be, but what’s the reason it looks like we’re at the center?
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The Cosmological Principle
At any given time the Universe ought to look the same to observers in all typical galaxies and in whatever directions they look In other words, the universe should look the same no matter where you look at it from There IS no center
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Advantage of this way of thinking
No longer need to live in a special place in the Universe If this idea is true, then the Universe looks essentially the same for ANY OTHER OBSERVER any where else in the Universe Can’t check this…
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No center or edge of the Universe?
2-dimensional analogy: Ant that can only walk on the surface of a sphere: Surface is finite, but has no edge For a creature living on the sphere, having no sense of the third dimension, there’s no center (on the sphere!): All points are equal Alternative: Any point on the surface can be defined as the center of a coordinate system
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??? Do we REALLY believe we’re the center of the Universe AND not moving? A better explanation?
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Is there really no center of the Universe?
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Where we are Full reading so far: BBBHNM: Chaps. 1-11 TFTM: Chaps. 1-3
BHOT: Chaps. 1-7, 9 and 11 ( ) SHU: Chaps. 1-3, 4(77-86), 5(95-104), 6, 7 (up-to-page 153) TOE: Chaps. 1 & 2
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Paper 1 Stuff Done with grades Graded unfairly? Let us know!
Passing score: Need ALL of the following Text score: more than 21 points (70%) Calibrations: more than 15 points Reviews: more than 15 points Overall score: more than 70 points Revision CPR Updated assignment requirements and rubric Text submission due date has passed Do full CPR grading Grading due Wednesday at noon
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Paper 2 and Other Stuff Paper 2: Submissions were due Friday at noon
CPR grading due Friday at Noon Elearning: Unit 3 in progress Paper 3: Due 1 week after we finish Chapter 12 57
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For Next Time Finished: The Exploding Universe
Expansion of Space-Time and General Relativity Next Time: Chapter 12: Cosmic Background Radiation Full reading so far: BBBHNM: Chaps. 1-12 TFTM: Chaps. 1-3 BHOT: Chaps. 1-7, 9 and 11 ( ) SHU: Chaps. 1-3, 4(77-86), 5(95-104), 6, 7 (up-to-page 153) TOE: Chaps. 1 & 2 Lecture prep: Turn in on eLearning Two questions from the Chapter 12 you want to know the answer to
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We’re at the CENTER and NOT MOVING: Red Shifted Light
Consistent with what we observe!
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Equal amounts of stuff on each side Consistent with what we observe!
If We’re at the Center Equal amounts of stuff on each side Slow Stuff Medium Speed Fast Stuff Consistent with what we observe!
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Another possibility: We’re at the center and MOVING
Not really blue shifted, just less-red shifted Not what we observe!
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If We’re not at the Center
Lots of stuff on this side Not much stuff on this side Medium Speed Slow Stuff Fast Stuff Not what we observe!
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Consistent with the Data?
Red shifts are the same in all directions The Universe looks the same in all directions Consistent with assumption
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Writing Assignments Short Assignment 1 was due today before the beginning of Class Any revisions will be due 1 week after it is returned Short Assignment 2 is posted Currently Due Tuesday Oct 27th which is one week after we finish Chapter 12 Research Paper is posted Stage 0 due Thurs Oct 29th Stage 1 due Thurs Nov 5th Final paper due the last day of class, Tuesday Dec 8th Unit 2 eLearning stuff now due Need to start Unit 3 eLearning stuff
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Truth? This is science, can’t PROVE this assumption to be true We haven’t been able to go to any really distant places to check it yet May never be able to fully check it
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A Hypothesis Make a hypothesis: The Universe looks the same to ALL OBSERVERS If this were true, what would the implications be? Could this explain what we see? Can we test this some other way?
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Everywhere? Need to be careful not to overstate this point… It’s not exactly the same, but basically the same Start with some examples to tell better what we mean…
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The Forest and the Trees
If the trees in the forest are uniformly distributed, nearby trees may give the appearance of bunching The universe might not appear uniform right around where we are looking But, on LARGE SCALES our view appears identical in whichever direction we look
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From Awhile ago… From the Front Steps of the NY museum you can’t see the structure From up high you can clearly see the streets of New York form a grid
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What matters is the Scale
If we look at distant galaxies, there seems to be more or less the same number of them in every direction, provided we view it on a large scale compared to the distance between galaxies Have to ignore the distances on small scales Need to be clear… we’re talking about REALLY Big scales (like 100 million light years) Remembering that we’re talking about BIG sizes, let’s move forward…
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The Cosmological Principle
We make the following fundamental assumptions: 1) Homogeneity: On the largest scales, the local universe has the same physical properties throughout the universe Every region has the same physical properties (mass density, expansion rate, etc.) 2) Isotropy: On the largest scales, the local universe looks the same in any direction that one observes You should see the same large-scale structure in any direction 3) Universality: The laws of physics are the same everywhere in the universe
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Cosmological Principle and Hubble’s law
Red shifts are the same in all directions The Universe looks the same in all directions Consistent with assumption Helps reassure astronomers that we are really looking at some appreciable part of the universe and not just some local region
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Could it be true? Simple geometry shows that if the universe looks identical in whichever direction WE look then this would be true if we were observing the universe from anywhere else Certainly is self-consistent
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Before we Begin 1st Short Writing Assignment Handed out today Posted on the Webpages Research Paper Assignment Handed out today Also posted on the Webpages
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Cosmology and General Relativity
According to the theory of general relativity, gravity is caused by the curvature of space-time. The effects of gravity on the largest cosmological scales should be related to the curvature of space-time! The curvature of space-time, in turn, is determined by the distribution of mass and energy in the universe. Space-time tells matter how to move; matter tells space-time how to curve.
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This is a test…
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Two Objects Moving Away from Me
What it looks like when I’m stationary (or in my reference frame)
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Two Objects Moving Away From Me
What it looks like when I’m moving relative to the objects
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Same Thing: My Reference Frame
What it looks like when I’m stationary
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BHOT 6: Curved Space Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Gravity is not a force like other forces, but rather the weird consequence that space time is not flat Space-time is curved or “warped” by the distribution of mass and energy in it. Bodies, such as the earth or an apple, are not made to move on curved orbits from the “force of gravity” rather they move in curved orbits because they follow the nearest thing to a straight path in curved space. (the shortest distance between two points)
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BHOT 6 cont… Picture on page 39 of BHOT.
In GR, bodies always fallow a geodesic in four dimensional space time. Example from SHU 4: “Imagine a heavy object such as a cannonball), representing the sun being placed in the middle of a tau rubber sheet which represents space-time. The weight of the ball will make it sink into the rubber sheet, creating a cone shaped dent all around it – rather reminiscent of the surface of swirling water rushing down a plug hole” Picture on page 81
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TFTM 3 cont… Photons as waves and as particles...
Light "waves" are actually LOTS of photons all moving together. However, in reality they are separate particles (Feynman diagram?) and each photon interacts with an atom individually. Again a diagram? What happens to photons as they travel in the universe? Now? Then? Now: Space is so empty that light from 10 billion years ago can reach us just fine.
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SHU 4 cont… Say something about the cosmological constant? It’s a cute story, but so what for now… Cute story about how Einstein blew him off… then came Hubble. Church liked the idea, encouraged him (funded him!) to pursue it. With Hubble’s data could predict, roughly, that the “moment of creation” was about 15 billion years ago.
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The Expanding Universe (2)
This does not mean that we are at the center of the universe! You have the same impression from any other galaxy as well
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This is some text
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We’re not at a special place in the universe every galaxy is moving apart at a relative speed proportional to their separation
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The Questions…
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Could it be true? Freidmann: Two assumptions 1) The universe looks identical in whichever direction we look 2) This would be true if we were observing the universe from anywhere else. Predicted Hubble’s stuff (1929) in 1922.
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The Expanding Universe
On large scales, galaxies are moving apart, with velocity proportional to distance It’s not galaxies moving through space, Space is expanding, carrying the galaxies along!
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More text
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No center of the Universe?
Consider an Ant walking around “the universe” Nowhere on the surface can be called the center No “center” of the Universe Everywhere can be considered the center There is no “Before” the Big Bang Space and time come into existence together
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Need stuff on Curvature?
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Shape and Geometry of the Universe
Back to our 2-dimensional analogy: How can a 2-D creature investigate the geometry of the sphere? Measure curvature of its space! Flat surface (zero curvature) Closed surface Open surface (positive curvature) (negative curvature)
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