Origin of the Universe

Cosmology: The study of the universe and

our place in it.

• The moment when all matter

and energy were formed in a
cosmic explosion is called the
Big Bang
• Occurred 13.7 billion years ago
• Generated quarks that went
flying out into space along with
energy
• Quarks came together to form
the smallest atoms (hydrogen
and helium).
• Quarks coalesce (came
together) to form
protons, neutrons and
electron: Subatomic
particles
– Particle accelerators
are used to study
quarks and what
happened in the Big
Bang.
– Bombard subatomic
particles, other
subatomic particles
and look what gets
ejected as they
collide
• Even today when we listen in space we hear a hiss indicating the presence
of microwave radiation still radiating since the Big Bang.
 Inflation
• A process that
started when the
universe formed
and continues
today.
• We can see
evidence of this in
something called
redshift.
 Red Shift/Blue Shift
• As an object moves • As an object moves
away from the towards the observer
observer there is an there is an decrease
increase in the in the wavelength of
wavelength of any any light emitted.
light emitted.

We can also hear this phenomenon (the Doppler Effect) in sound waves.
 Gravity!
• The Big Bang made • The largest clumps
quarks, those quarks get hot and dense
coalesced to form enough to start a
atoms of H and He. fusion reaction.
• Those atoms • Fusion reaction: two
clumped together smaller atoms
and the clumps grow combine to make a
as a result of gravity. larger atom.
 A Star is Born!
• Stars are powered by • When all the hydrogen
fusion reactions. in a star is used up,
• Origin of our solar large stars will collapse
system. in on themselves
• These fusion reactions (implode).
start out making
elements like He and Li.
 Supernovae
• An exploding star! • When the star runs
• When all the out of any smaller
hydrogen is gone and elements to fuse it,
the star is imploding explodes out and all
there is enough heat the rest of the
and pressure for elements after iron
heavier elements (up (Fe) are formed.
to iron) to form.
 Gravity!
• Gravity pulls atoms • “We are all stardust”
back together – All the atoms that
forming new stars make us and
and sometimes everything else we
planets like ours. have around us were
made in ancient stars
• These new objects that exploded as
have a mix of all supernovae.
sorts of elements.
 Evidence for the Big Bang

1. Background hiss of microwave radiation

2. Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant

element in the universe followed by He

3. Red Shift: the universe is expanding

4. Stars and supernovae repeat patterns