Date | November 2011 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 11N.3.HL.TZ0.3 |
Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
Command term | State | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
This question is about Hubble’s law.
State Hubble’s law.
The wavelength of a line in the spectrum of atomic hydrogen, as measured in the laboratory, is 656 nm. The same line in the spectrum of light from a distant galaxy is measured to be 790 nm. The galaxy is 940 Mpc from Earth.
(i) Show that the recessional speed of the galaxy is 6.13×104 km s–1.
(ii) Determine, using your answer to (b)(i), a value for the Hubble constant.
(iii) Show, using your answer to (b)(ii), that the age of the universe is of the order of 1017 s. (1 pc =3.1×1013 km)
Markscheme
the recessional speed of galaxies from Earth is proportional to their distance from Earth;
or
v=Hd; (with symbols defined)
(i) v=cΔλλ;
=3.0×105×134656;
=6.13×104kms−1
(ii) H=vd;
=(6.13×104940=)65.1kms−1Mpc−1;
(iii) T=1H;
=3.1×101965.1=4.76×1017s;
≈1017s