Section 1.

3: Matter and the universe

Section Goals
You will learn

• that the universe is made of matter and energy in space-

time (in which all events happen).

• the importance of units of measure (T, L, M etc) in

physics.

• that there exist typical length scales of physical objects

in the universe.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Slide 1-23
Section 1.3: Matter and the universe

• We want to describe all that happens in the universe.

• How? We introduce physical quantities to describe
natural phenomena (by equations = relations among them).
• Length is the fundamental physical quantity to map the
universe (from microscopic to macroscopic scales):

• The International System of Units (SI) defines the

standard unit of length to be a meter (denoted by m).
• One meter is defined by the distance travelled
by light in vacuum during a time interval
of 1/299,792,458 = 1 [m]/c [m/s] of a second.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Slide 1-24
Section 1.3: Matter and the universe

• An order of magnitude (power of ten) is an extremely

important concept to get a feel (or rough idea) of the vast
range of size scales in the universe.
• In order-of-magnitude estimates, 1 ≈ 0.3 to 3. Similarly,
10 ≈ 3 to 30, etc. (approximation)
• Example: 3 mins = (3 ´60 = 180) secs = 1.8 ´ 102 s.
So, 3 mins = 1.8 ´ 102 s ≈ 102 s.
• Another example: Earth’s circumference = 40,000,000 m
= 4 ´ 107m ≈ 108 m.

Get ballpark figures first before indulging yourself

into irrelevant details.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Slide 1-25
Section 1.3: Matter and the universe

• All ordinary matter in the universe is made up of basic

building blocks,

atoms (see figure) ⊃ nucleus (protons & neutrons)

+ a cloud of electrons ⊃ quarks ⊃ strings?

• atom size ≈ 10–10 m ⊃ nucleus size ≈ 10–15 m

© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.

Slide 1-26
Section 1.3: Matter and the universe

• Vast range of scales in the universe

microscopic scales
(sub)atomic physics

ti o n s
ti c al equa
them a
b y m a
All r u le d

macroscopic scales
astrophysics & cosmology
© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Slide 1-27
Section 1.3: Matter and the universe

Exercise 1.4 Tiny universe

If all the matter in the observable universe were squeezed
together as tightly as the matter in the nucleus of an atom,
what order of magnitude would the diameter of the
universe be?

Hint: (1) 1080 nucleus in the universe

(2) nucleus diameter ≈ 10–15 m

This is an order-of-magnitude (ballpark figure) question.

© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.

Slide 1-28
Section 1.3: Matter and the universe

Exercise 1.4 Tiny universe (cont.)

SOLUTION Since one nucleus volume ≈ (10–15)3 m3 =
10–45 m3 and there are 1080 nucleus in the universe, the
total volume of all the nucleus in the universe is

Volume ≈ (1080 nucleus)(10–45 m3) = 1035 m3

which corresponds to the diameter

Diameter ≈ (1035 m3)1/3 ≈ 1012 m

and is a bit larger than the diameter of Earth’s orbit around
the Sun.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Slide 1-29