Big Bang Theory

​Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory says that everything in the universe once fit into an incredibly small area. Because this area was very hot, a powerful expansion of energy was created. Everything that was densely packed in the small area went flying out in all directions. In a blink of an eye, this microscopic area expanded into something larger than the Milky Way galaxy.

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​Within seconds, everything began to cool down. Still expanding, the building blocks of the universe began to form. After millions of years, the universe’s temperature was cool enough to allow galaxies and stars to form. To this very day, the universe is still cooling and expanding.

Multiple Choice

The Big Bang Theory suggests that our universe formed as the result of a huge explosion that sent all existing matter flying outward from a single point. The Big Bang Theory is supported by which of these observations?

• All matter in the universe is composed of the same atoms.

• All galaxies appear to be moving away from all other galaxies.

• All stars in the universe are approximately the same age.

• The universe is relatively the same temperature in all locations.

Multiple Choice

What is happening to the Universe to this day?

• The universe is getting smaller and hotter.

• The universe is staying the same.

• The universe is getting cooler and bigger.

​The Big Bang Theory is not the only theory that tries to explain the creation of the universe. However, it the most popular current theory. Scientists have discovered that galaxies are traveling away from Earth. Scientists know this by studying the color of light that the galaxies give off. Light from each galaxy appears to be shifted toward the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum. This means they are traveling away from Earth. This supports the idea of a

great expansion from the Big Bang.

Multiple Choice

What does it mean if a galaxy gives off light which has been shifted toward the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum?

• The galaxy is much older than Earth.

• The galaxy is moving away from Earth.

• The galaxy is very hot and has not cooled down yet.

• The remnants of an explosion are between the galaxy and Earth.

Multiple Choice

True or False:

The Big Bang Theory is the ONLY explanation for the origin of the universe.

• True.

• False.

Another piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang was found when scientists had

launched the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite. It precisely measured the temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. Scientists had made temperature predictions based on starting with a hot Big Bang. The satellite found temperatures which matched with the predictions. Scientists believe this radiation is from the energy released during the first year of the Big Bang.

​Scientists have estimated that the universe was formed over 13 billion years ago. In 1995,

scientists pointed the Hubble Space Telescope into an area of space that seemed empty.

The telescope collected light for 240 hours. The images that were sent back to Earth were

amazing. Many thousands of galaxies appeared in a space as small as a grain of sand.

​If there are this many galaxies spread evenly through space, there could be over 50 billion galaxies in the universe. The farthest galaxies are over 13 billion light years away. This supports the Big Bang Theory by telling scientists how old our universe is.

Multiple Choice

The Big Bang Theory suggests that our universe originated hot long ago?

• 10 - 20 billion years ago

• 10 - 20 million years ago

• 10 - 20 thousand years ago

• 10 - 20 centuries ago

The universe’s creation is still a mystery to scientists. The Big Bang is just one theory that tries to explain the origins of the universe. Exactly how big is the universe? Where is it expanding to? These questions continue to fascinate scientists and non-scientists alike.

STEMSCOPES - 2013 Rice University.

Multiple Choice

As part of The Big Bang Theory of the formation of the Universe, scientists believe that over time, the universe is continually changing in what characteristic?

• From more dense to less dense.

• From rotating to stationary.

• From cooler to hotter.

• From very large to very small.

Multiple Choice

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) is the term used to describe the residual microwave radiation observed everywhere in the universe that seems to have no single source. The observation of CMBR is used as evidence of The Big Bang Theory because it is believed to be -

• The result of collisions between neighboring galaxies.

• Particles of dust that have absorbed radioactivity.

• Radiation left over from the rapid expansion of matter.

• Light energy emitted from the source of The Big Bang.