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The Universe
Understand that the Milky Way is one of countless galaxies that constitute the Universe, with a diameter of about 100,000 light-years.
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90 min
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CambridgeIGCSEPhysicsSpace physics
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The Universe outcomes11 objectives
- Understand that the Milky Way is one of countless galaxies that constitute the Universe, with a diameter of about 100,000 light-years.
- Explain redshift as the increase in the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation from stars and galaxies that are moving away from us.
- Recognize that light from distant galaxies appears redshifted compared to light observed on Earth.
- Acknowledge that the redshift observed in light from distant galaxies indicates that the Universe is expanding, supporting the Big Bang Theory.
- Understand that cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) is microwave radiation of a specific frequency detected throughout space.
- Explain that the CMBR was generated shortly after the formation of the Universe and has shifted into the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum due to the expansion of the Universe.
- Know that the speed at which a galaxy is receding from Earth can be calculated from the change in wavelength of its starlight due to redshift.
- Understand that the distance to a distant galaxy can be determined by measuring the brightness of a supernova within that galaxy.
- Define the Hubble constant as the ratio of the speed at which a galaxy is moving away from Earth to its distance from Earth, and recall the equation v = H₀d.
- Know that the current estimate for the Hubble constant is approximately 18 × 10² per second.
- Understand that the equation d = v/H₀ provides an estimate for the age of the Universe, supporting the concept that all matter was once concentrated at a single point.
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