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Date May 2014 Marks available 2 Reference code 14M.3.SL.TZ2.14
Level Standard level Paper Paper 3 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Explain Question number 14 Adapted from N/A

Question

This question is about the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation.

State two characteristics of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation.

 

1.

 

 

 

2.

[2]
a.

Explain how CMB radiation is evidence for the Big Bang model of an expanding universe.

[2]
b.

Markscheme

electromagnetic radiation in the microwave region;

black body radiation (at a temperature of about 3 K);

(almost) isotropic/uniform radiation;

radiation that fills the universe/exists everywhere/has no obvious point of origin;

a.

CMB radiation was a prediction of the Big Bang model;

CMB “temperature” is consistent with a universe that has cooled from an initial hot state;

CMB wavelength is consistent with a universe that has expanded from an initial hot, dense state;

CMB isotropy/uniformity is consistent with its origin in the very early universe;

b.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.

Syllabus sections

Option D: Astrophysics » Option D: Astrophysics (Core topics) » D.3 – Cosmology
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