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Find out what types of radiation are emitted by the Sun in this quiz.

Waves - The Expanding Universe

This GCSE Physics quiz explores the expanding universe, from red-shift and cosmic background radiation to how scientists use waves and light to study distant galaxies.

Explore the Topic →

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Fascinating Fact:

The existence of this background radiation strongly supports the Big Bang theory as a model for how the universe began.

In GCSE Physics, the expanding universe topic links wave behaviour to cosmology. You learn how red-shift and cosmic microwave background radiation provide powerful evidence for the Big Bang model.

Key Terms

Big Bang theory: The idea that the universe began from a very hot, dense state and has been expanding ever since.
Cosmic microwave background: Very faint microwave radiation filling all space, thought to be leftover energy from the early universe.
Expanding universe: The observation that galaxies are moving away from each other, meaning space itself is stretching over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is meant by an expanding universe in GCSE Physics?

An expanding universe means that, on large scales, the distance between galaxies is increasing with time, so space itself is stretching rather than galaxies flying through empty space.

How does red-shift show that the universe is expanding?

Light from distant galaxies is red-shifted, meaning its wavelength is stretched. This shows those galaxies are moving away from us, which supports the idea that the universe is expanding.

Why is cosmic microwave background radiation important evidence?

Cosmic microwave background radiation is important because it matches what the Big Bang theory predicts for leftover heat from the early universe, giving strong support to the model you study at GCSE.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

The faster a star or galaxy is moving (relative to us), we say that the redshift is …

bigger

smaller

the same

There is no correlation between speed and size of red-shift

The light waves are 'stretched' more by faster moving objects

2 .

The shift seen when an object is moving towards us is not red, it is …

pink

blue

green

black

The faster the object is approaching, the greater the blueshift

3 .

If scientists find new evidence that doesn’t support the Big Bang Theory, what should other scientists do?

Have a party

Ignore the evidence and keep on believing what they always have

Dismiss them as crackpots

Test the evidence to ensure that it is reproducible

This is the scientific method

4 .

How long does it take the light from the sun to reach us?

Instantly

2 minutes

8 minutes

20 minutes

Due to the distance between us and the Sun and the fact that light travels at 3 x 10⁸ m/s, it takes around 8 minutes for the light emitted by the Sun to reach us

5 .

How do we know black holes exist if we cannot see them?

They bend light

They emit a very specific type of radiation

Objects near them orbit around them

All of the above

The idea of black holes was first suggested in 1916 by a scientist called Scwarzchild

6 .

What happens to the wavelength of light from stars that are moving away from us?

It gets shorter

It doesn't change

It gets longer

It goes zig zag

Each successive light wave crest or trough starts from a little further away than it would have done if the star was stationary so the wavelength is a little longer

7 .

What is blueshift?

When blue light is emitted from a source

When an object is moving towards an observer, the light emitted from the object is shifted to the blue part of the spectrum

When an object is moving towards an observer, the light emitted from the object is shifted to the red part of the spectrum

There is no such thing as blue shift

Each new wave is emitted from a point a little closer than if the object was stationary so the wavelength appears to be shorter than it would have been

8 .

What types of radiation are emitted by the Sun?

Infra-Red

Ultra-Violet

Light

All of the above

The Sun emits many kinds of radiation - not just the light that we can see. We can look at the Sun with special telescopes designed to see different wavelengths of light

9 .

"In space no one can hear you scream" was a famous movie quote, but is that actually true and why?

It is not true

It is true. Sound waves need particles to vibrate to travel. In space, particles are few and far between so sound cannot travel through space

It is not true, but we don't know why

It is true. Space is too cold for sound waves to travel

Sound is a longitudinal wave and requires a material medium so you could not hear a scream directly in space. Electromagnetic radiation can travel through a vacuum so if the person screaming had their communications radio switched on, you would be able to hear their scream. Assuming the spacesuit of the person screaming was still pressurised, if you touched your helmet to theirs, you could hear them scream. But how would that work? And would you really want to be that close ... it could be your turn next!

10 .

How do we know that the Universe is currently expanding?

Light waves from distant galaxies are shifted so that they appear redder than they normally would

Light waves from distant galaxies are shifted so that they appear bluer than they normally would

Gamma waves from distant galaxies are shifted so that they appear redder than they normally would

Delta waves from distant galaxies are shifted so that they appear redder than they normally would

When an object moves away from an observer, the waves that the object emits have a longer wavelength due to the speed of the object. Using this fact we can see that distant objects are moving away

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - The expanding Universe

Author: Martin Moore