Origin of the Universe

Origin and Age of the Universe

Humans have observed celestial objects for thousands of years contemplating their

place in the universe.

Celestial objects

The universeIt is estimated that the Universe is between 10 – 13.7 billion years old.

One theory explaining the origin

of the Universe is known as the Big

Bang Theory.

The Big Bang Theory

1. After the explosion, all matter began to organize into subatomic particles (protons/electrons) and small atoms (hydrogen and helium).

2. Within one billion years after the explosion, matter (atoms) became organized into celestial bodies.

3. These new celestial bodies developed gravitational fields. Stars and solar systems became grouped within these fields.

Evidence for the Big Bang Theory

1. RT = Pg.

14

Evidence for the Big Bang Theory

2.

The Doppler effect is a phenomena that illustrates the shifting wavelengths of electromagnetic energy from objects moving in an expanding universe.

RT = Pg. 14

The Doppler Effect

As the motorcycle moves closer to “Person A” the sound waves from the motorcycle compress (wavelengths decrease) – an increase in sound.

For “Person B” the sound waves are spread out (wavelengths increase) and there is a decrease in sound.

Person B Person A

As the universe continues to expand from the Big

Bang, the electromagnetic radiation of celestial

objects that are closest to the Earth have smaller

wavelengths (blue shift) than those that are

moving away from the Earth (long wavelength –

red shift).

wavelength wavelength

Spectral Evidence of The Doppler

Effect

A spectrometer is an instrument that will measure properties of light emitted from an element. Visible

light can broken down into the colored spectrum

Each element

produces a unique

spectrogram – a series of black bands

(spectral lines) placed across the

colored spectrum.

Spectral lines appear when

specific wavelengths on light are absorbed.