Red-shift

1 When astronomers look at distant galaxies, they observe Grade

that the light coming from them has undergone red-shift. 4-6
Describe what is meant by the term red-shift.

[Total 2 marks]

2 An astronomer is analysing the light received from Grade

a distant galaxy, known as Hoag's Object. 7-9

To do this, she compares the absorption lines of helium observed in the light from Hoag's Object
with the known absorption spectrum of helium on Earth. Part of the known absorption spectrum
of helium is shown below.
x
686.7
587.5 667.8 706.5 781.3

550 600 650 700 750 800

wavelength ( x 109 m)

The astronomer notices that the absorption line for light with a reference wavelength, Xo,of
587.5 x 10-9m in the known spectrum appears to correspond to a wavelength of 612.5 x 10-9 m
in the light received from Hoag's Object.
Speedof light in freespace, —
a) Calculate the velocity of Hoag's Object. c = 3.0 x 108 m/s

Velocity = m/s
[31
b) Calculate the wavelength at which the absorption line marked X in the spectrum above will appear
in the light received from Hoag's Object.

Wavelength = m
[31
[Total 6 marks]

Score:
 The Big Bang
Grade
years.
1 The table shows a list of galaxies and their distance from Earth in light 60

Galaxy Distance From Earth (light years) 1 light years

12 million — 9.5 10 5 m
Cigar Galaxy

Black Eye Galaxy 24 million

Sunflower Galaxy 37 million

Tadpole Galaxy 420 million

The light from the galaxies in the table shows red-shift.

a) Light from which of the galaxies in the table would you expect to show the greatest red-shift?
Explain your answer.

[31

b) i) Explain how the red-shift of light from distant

galaxies provides evidence for the Big Bang model.

[41

ii) Name one other piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang model.

[11
[Total 8 marks]

Exam Practice Tip Score

The Big Bang theory is the leading theory of the creation of the universe but it wasn't always. It's only
accepted because there'sevidenceto support it. Make sure you know the differentobservations which back up
the Big Bang theory,and how the Big Bang theory explains them. 8

*ection 8 — Astrophysics