STEADY STATE

UNIVERSE
by Eric Karlan
• The Basics
Who: Hermann Bondi,
Thomas Gold, and Sir
Fred Hoyle

• When: 1948

• Where: Earth

• What: Proposed the

Steady State Theory

• Why: An alternative
theory to the Big Bang
 The Theory
The universe is always the
same, all the time, always
static, always contracting or
expanding.
 THE LOGIC
• Based on theoretical mathematical calculations

• No sudden beginning to universe

• Decrease in density caused by expansion

balanced by continuous creation of matter
condensing into galaxies

• Maintain forever present appearance of the

universe
 The Workings

• Reservoir of energy is negative: Expansion and

creation work against each other

• Small number of atoms needed annually to

maintain steady state
 The Contributions

• Explains hydrogen and helium abundance in the

universe

• Contributes to Wheeler-Feynman Theory

 The Refutation
• Distribution of
Radio Sources

• 1966: Discovery of
Quasars

• Cosmic Background
Radiation
 The Meaning
• Radio galaxies and quasars occur only
at very large distances

• Implies red-shift
• Thus, evolution of universe
 The Conclusion

• The Big Bang Model prevails present day

• Steady State theory helped to prove Big Bang

through its testability
 The Works Cited

• The Steady State Universe. Accessed 25 March,

2006.
http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/study/sci/c
osmo/internal/steady.htm

• “Steady State Universe.” Wikipedia. 11 March,

2004. Accessed 25 March, 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steady_state_univer
se