- http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/dark_matter. html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCgTJ6ID6ZA
- http://en.wikipedia.org
Vocabulary
Big Bang Theory Thehypothesisthatallmatterandenergywereatonetimecompresses
into a very small volume; then there was an explosion that sent everything moving
outward, causing the universe to expand.
dark energy An as yet undiscovered form of energy that we cannot see.
dark matter Matter in the universe that doesn’t emit light.
redshift Shift of wavelengths of light towards the red end of the spectrum; happens as a
light source moves away from us.
universe Everything that exists; all matter and energy; also includes all of space and time.
Points to Consider
- The expansion of the universe is sometimes modeled using a balloon with dots marked
on it, as described earlier in the lesson. In what ways is this a good model, and it
what ways does it not correctly represent the expanding universe? Can you think of a
different way to model the expansion of the universe? - The Big Bang theory is currently the most widely accepted scientific theory for how the
universe formed. What is another explanation of how the universe could have formed?
Is your explanation one that a scientist would accept?
Image Sources
(1) NASA.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:
M104_ngc4594_sombrero_galaxy_hi-res.jpg. GNU-FDL.(2) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Stellarparallax2.png. Public
Domain.(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:M31_Lanoue.png. Public Domain.