AST 307 · Introductory Astronomy
Fall 2003



Topics


Chapter 26  Nov. 24-26

  1. State Hubble's law. Say how Hubble's constant is measured. Why doesn't Hubble's law apply to objects in the solar system or in the Milky Way?

  2. Explain how Hubble's law implies that the Universe began with a "Big Bang". Explain how all distant objects could move away from us even if we are not at the center of the expansion.

  3. Explain why Hubble's constant is related to the age of the Universe in the way it is, assuming that the expansion of the Universe is not accelerating. Assuming the expansion is not accelerating, how does Hubble's constant change with time?

  4. Assuming that Newton's laws are valid, explain how and why the fate of the Universe is related to the average density of the Universe.

  5. What have observations of supernovae told us about the rate of expansion of the Universe in the past? How can we explain the acceleration of the expansion?

  6. How was the microwave background radiation emitted? Why does it have the spectrum it does, with a peak wavelength near 1 mm?















26 November 2003
Astronomy Program · The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, Texas 78712
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