Physics 7. Homework # 9

Due: 5/31

1)      What is the cosmic background radiation?

a)      The result of many supernova explosions

b)      The afterglow from the Big Bang, very strongly red-shifted

c)      The glow produced by the sun in most astronomical observations

d)     A noise produced by quantum effects in the instruments that measure microwaves emissions form stars

2)      Name two confirmed predictions of the Big Bang hypothesis

a)      The cosmic background radiation and the abundance of light elements

b)      The existence of black holes

c)      The equivalence of the inertial and gravitational masses

d)     The absolute nature of the speed of light

3)      Name one puzzle connected with the Big Bang hypothesis

a)      The existence and origin of the cosmic background radiation

b)      The amount of helium relative of hydrogen

c)      The fact that the universe is expanding

d)     The almost perfect uniformity of the cosmic background radiation

4)      If you are in the middle of a large room filled with ping-pong balls (they are above, below and all around you), what can you say about your surroundings

a)      They are homogeneous and isotropic

b)      Only homogeneous

c)      Only isotropic

d)     Neither homogeneous nor isotropic.