DP Physics Questionbank
D.3 – Cosmology
Description
Nature of science:
Occam’s Razor: The Big Bang model was purely speculative until it was confirmed by the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation. The model, while correctly describing many aspects of the universe as we observe it today, still cannot explain what happened at time zero. (2.7)
Understandings:
- The Big Bang model
- Cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation
- Hubble’s law
- The accelerating universe and redshift (z)
- The cosmic scale factor (R)
Applications and skills:
- Describing both space and time as originating with the Big Bang
- Describing the characteristics of the CMB radiation
- Explaining how the CMB radiation is evidence for a Hot Big Bang
- Solving problems involving z, R and Hubble’s law
- Estimating the age of the universe by assuming a constant expansion rate
Guidance:
- CMB radiation will be considered to be isotropic with
- For CMB radiation a simple explanation in terms of the universe cooling down or distances (and hence wavelengths) being stretched out is all that is required
- A qualitative description of the role of type Ia supernovae as providing evidence for an accelerating universe is required
Data booklet reference:
International-mindedness:
- Contributions from scientists from many nations made the analysis of the cosmic microwave background radiation possible
Utilization:
- Doppler effect (see Physics sub-topic 9.5)
Aims:
- Aim 1: scientific explanation of black holes requires a heightened level of creativity
- Aim 9: our limit of understanding is guided by our ability to observe within our universe
Directly related questions
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.17b: A spectral line in the hydrogen spectrum measured in the laboratory today has a wavelength of...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.17a: Identify two other characteristics of the CMB radiation that are predicted from the Hot Big Bang...
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17M.3.SL.TZ1.10c.ii:
Estimate the size of the Universe relative to its present size when the light was emitted by the galaxy in (c).
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17M.3.SL.TZ1.10a.i:
State two characteristics of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation.
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17M.3.SL.TZ1.10c.i:
Determine the distance to this galaxy using a value for the Hubble constant of H0 = 68 km s–1Mpc–1.
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17M.3.SL.TZ1.10b:
Describe how the CMB provides evidence for the Hot Big Bang model of the universe.
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17M.3.SL.TZ2.12b:
State two features of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation which are consistent with the Big Bang model.
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17M.3.SL.TZ2.12a:
Describe what is meant by the Big Bang model of the universe.
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17M.3.SL.TZ2.12c.i:
Determine the distance to the galaxy in Mpc.
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20N.3.SL.TZ0.16b:
Outline how Hubble’s law is related to .
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20N.3.SL.TZ0.16a:
The light from a distant galaxy shows that .
Calculate the ratio .
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20N.3.HL.TZ0.21b:
Outline how Hubble’s law is related to .
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20N.3.HL.TZ0.21a:
The light from a distant galaxy shows that .
Calculate the ratio .
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17N.3.SL.TZ0.13b:
Determine the velocity of the galaxy relative to Earth.
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.13a: Outline one reason for the difference in wavelength.
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18M.3.SL.TZ2.12a:
Estimate, using the data, the age of the universe. Give your answer in seconds.
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18M.3.SL.TZ2.12b:
Identify the assumption that you made in your answer to (a).
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18M.3.SL.TZ2.12c:
On the graph, one galaxy is labelled A. Determine the size of the universe, relative to its present size, when light from the galaxy labelled A was emitted.
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18M.3.SL.TZ1.12a:
Explain how international collaboration has helped to refine this value.
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18M.3.SL.TZ1.12b:
Estimate, in Mpc, the distance between the galaxy and the Earth.
- 21N.1.SL.TZ0.30: Which is correct for a black-body radiator? A. The power it emits from a unit surface area...
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18N.3.HL.TZ0.19b:
Use the graph to determine the age of the universe in s.
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18N.3.SL.TZ0.13a:
Outline how Hubble measured the recessional velocities of galaxies.
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18N.3.SL.TZ0.13b:
Using the graph, determine in s, the age of the universe.
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18N.3.HL.TZ0.19a:
Outline how Hubble measured the recessional velocities of galaxies.
- 19M.3.SL.TZ2.14ai: A galaxy is 1.6 × 108 ly from Earth. Show that its recessional speed as measured from Earth is...
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19M.3.SL.TZ2.14aii:
A line in the hydrogen spectrum when measured on Earth has a wavelength of 486 nm. Calculate, in nm, the wavelength of the same hydrogen line when observed in the galaxy’s emission spectrum.
- 19M.3.SL.TZ2.14b: Outline how observations of spectra from distant galaxies provide evidence that the universe is...
- 19M.3.HL.TZ1.19b: Suggest why type I a supernovae were used in the study that led to the conclusion that the...
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19N.3.SL.TZ0.11b(i):
Estimate the age of the universe in seconds using the Hubble constant H0 = 70 km s–1 Mpc–1.
- 19N.3.SL.TZ0.11a(i): Outline how the light spectra of distant galaxies are used to confirm hypotheses about the...
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19N.3.SL.TZ0.11b(ii):
Outline why the estimate made in (b)(i) is unlikely to be the actual age of the universe.
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19N.3.SL.TZ0.11a(ii):
Light from a hydrogen source in a laboratory on Earth contains a spectral line of wavelength 122 nm. Light from the same spectral line reaching Earth from a distant galaxy has a wavelength of 392 nm. Determine the ratio of the present size of the universe to the size of the universe when the light was emitted by the galaxy.
- 19N.3.HL.TZ0.16a(i): Outline how the light spectra of distant galaxies are used to confirm hypotheses about the...
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19N.3.HL.TZ0.16a(ii):
Light from a hydrogen source in a laboratory on Earth contains a spectral line of wavelength 122 nm. Light from the same spectral line reaching Earth from a distant galaxy has a wavelength of 392 nm. Determine the ratio of the present size of the universe to the size of the universe when the light was emitted by the galaxy.
