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inflationary scenario : the rapid expansion of the universe by an incredible factor of 10−50for the brief time from 10−35to about 10−32s
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
MACHOs : massive compact halo objects; microlensing objects of huge mass
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
microlensing : a process in which light from a distant star is focused and the star appears to brighten in a characteristic manner, when a small body (smaller than about 1/1000 the mass of the Sun) passes between us and the star
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
negatively curved : an open universe that expands forever
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
neutralinos : a type of WIMPs having masses several orders of magnitude greater than nucleon masses
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
neutrino oscillations : a process in which any type of neutrino could change spontaneously into any other
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
neutron stars : literally a star composed of neutrons
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
positively curved : a universe that is closed and eventually contracts
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
Quantum gravity : the theory that deals with particle exchange of gravitons as the mechanism for the force
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
quasars : the moderately distant galaxies that emit as much or more energy than a normal galaxy
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
Schwarzschild radius : the radius of the event horizon
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
spontaneous symmetry breaking : the transition from GUT to electroweak where the forces were no longer unified
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
Superconductors : materials with resistivity of zero
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
superforce : hypothetical unified force in TOE epoch
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
Superstring theory : a theory to unify gravity with the other three forces in which the fundamental particles are considered to act like one-dimensional vibrating strings
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
thought experiment : mental analysis of certain carefully and clearly defined situations to develop an idea
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
TOE epoch : before 10−43after the Big Bang
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
WIMPs : weakly interacting massive particles; chargeless leptons (non-baryonic matter) interacting negligibly with normal matter
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-glossary
Cosmology is the study of the character and evolution of the universe.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The two most important features of the universe are the cosmological red shifts of its galaxies being proportional to distance and its cosmic microwave background (CMBR). Both support the notion that there was a gigantic explosion, known as the Big Bang that created the universe.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Galaxies farther away than our local group have, on an average, a recessional velocity given byv=H0d,v=H0d,whereddis the distance to the galaxy andH0H0is the Hubble constant, taken to have the average valueH0=20 km/sâ‹Mly.H0=20 km/sâ‹Mly.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
whereddis the distance to the galaxy andH0H0is the Hubble constant, taken to have the average valueH0=20 km/sâ‹Mly.H0=20 km/sâ‹Mly.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Explanations of the large-scale characteristics of the universe are intimately tied to particle physics.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The dominance of matter over antimatter and the smoothness of the CMBR are two characteristics that are tied to particle physics.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The epochs of the universe are known back to very shortly after the Big Bang, based on known laws of physics.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The earliest epochs are tied to the unification of forces, with the electroweak epoch being partially understood, the GUT epoch being speculative, and the TOE epoch being highly speculative since it involves an unknown single superforce.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The transition from GUT to electroweak is called spontaneous symmetry breaking. It released energy that caused the inflationary scenario, which in turn explains the smoothness of the CMBR.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Einstein’s theory of general relativityincludes accelerated frames and, thus, encompasses special relativity and gravity. Created by use of careful thought experiments, it has been repeatedly verified by real experiments.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
One direct result of this behavior of nature is the gravitational lensingof light by massive objects, such as galaxies, also seen in the microlensingof light by smaller bodies in our galaxy.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Another prediction is the existence of black holes, objects for which the escape velocity is greater than the speed of light and from which nothing can escape.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The event horizonis the distance from the object at which the escape velocity equals the speed of lightcc. It is called the Schwarzschild radiusRSRSand is given byRS=2GMc2,RS=2GMc2,whereGGis the universal gravitational constant, andMMis the mass of the body.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
whereGGis the universal gravitational constant, andMMis the mass of the body.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Physics is unknown inside the event horizon, and the possibility of wormholes and time travel are being studied.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Candidates for black holes may power the extremely energetic emissions of quasars, distant objects that seem to be early stages of galactic evolution.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Neutron starsare stellar remnants, having the density of a nucleus, that hint that black holes could form from supernovas, too.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Gravitational waves are wrinkles in space, predicted by general relativity but not yet observed, caused by changes in very massive objects.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Quantum gravityis an incompletely developed theory that strives to include general relativity, quantum mechanics, and unification of forces (thus, a TOE).
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
One unconfirmed connection between general relativity and quantum mechanics is the prediction of characteristic radiation from just outside black holes.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Superstring theory holds that fundamental particles are one-dimensional vibrations analogous to those on strings and is an attempt at a theory of quantum gravity.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Dark matteris non-luminous matter detected in and around galaxies and galactic clusters.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
It may be 10 times the mass of the luminous matter in the universe, and its amount may determine whether the universe is open or closed (expands forever or eventually stops).
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The determining factor is the critical densityof the universe and the cosmological constant, a theoretical construct intimately related to the expansion and closure of the universe.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The critical densityρcis the density needed to just halt universal expansion. It is estimated to be approximately 10–26kg/m3.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
An open universe is negatively curved, a closed universe is positively curved, whereas a universe with exactly the critical density is flat.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Dark matter’s composition is a major mystery, but it may be due to the suspected mass of neutrinos or a completely unknown type of leptonic matter.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
If neutrinos have mass, they will change families, a process known as neutrino oscillations, for which there is growing evidence.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Complexity is an emerging field, rooted primarily in physics, that considers complex adaptive systems and their evolution, including self-organization.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Complexity has applications in physics and many other disciplines, such as biological evolution.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Chaos is a field that studies systems whose properties depend extremely sensitively on some variables and whose evolution is impossible to predict.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Chaotic systems may be simple or complex.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Studies of chaos have led to methods for understanding and predicting certain chaotic behaviors.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
High-temperature superconductors are materials that become superconducting at temperatures well above a few kelvin.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
The critical temperatureTcTcis the temperature below which a material is superconducting.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Some high-temperature superconductors have verifiedTcTcs above 125 K, and there are reports ofTcTcs as high as 250 K.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
On the largest scale, the questions which can be asked may be about dark matter, dark energy, black holes, quasars, and other aspects of the universe.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
On the intermediate scale, we can query about gravity, phase transitions, nonlinear phenomena, high-TcTcsuperconductors, and magnetic effects on materials.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
On the smallest scale, questions may be about quarks and leptons, fundamental forces, stability of protons, and existence of monopoles.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/34-section-summary
Percent uncertainty = δ A A × 100 % Percent uncertainty = δ A A × 100 %
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-equations
accuracy : the degree to which a measured value agrees with an accepted reference value for that measurement
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
base quantity : physical quantity chosen by convention and practical considerations such that all other physical quantities can be expressed as algebraic combinations of them
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
base unit : standard for expressing the measurement of a base quantity within a particular system of units; defined by a particular procedure used to measure the corresponding base quantity
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
conversion factor : a ratio that expresses how many of one unit are equal to another unit
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
derived quantity : physical quantity defined using algebraic combinations of base quantities
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
derived units : units that can be calculated using algebraic combinations of the fundamental units
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
dimension : expression of the dependence of a physical quantity on the base quantities as a product of powers of symbols representing the base quantities; in general, the dimension of a quantity has the formLaMbTcIdΘeNfJgLaMbTcIdΘeNfJgfor some powers a, b, c, d, e, f, and g.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
dimensionally consistent : equation in which every term has the same dimensions and the arguments of any mathematical functions appearing in the equation are dimensionless
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
dimensionless : quantity with a dimension ofL0M0T0I0Θ0N0J0=1;L0M0T0I0Θ0N0J0=1;also called quantity of dimension 1 or a pure number
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
discrepancy : the difference between the measured value and a given standard or expected value
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
English units : system of measurement used in the United States; includes units of measure such as feet, gallons, and pounds
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
estimation : using prior experience and sound physical reasoning to arrive at a rough idea of a quantity’s value; sometimes called an “order-of-magnitude approximation,” a “guesstimate,” a “back-of-the-envelope calculation”, or a “Fermi calculation”
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
kilogram : SI unit for mass, abbreviated kg
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
law : description, using concise language or a mathematical formula, of a generalized pattern in nature supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
meter : SI unit for length, abbreviated m
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
method of adding percents : the percent uncertainty in a quantity calculated by multiplication or division is the sum of the percent uncertainties in the items used to make the calculation.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
metric system : system in which values can be calculated in factors of 10
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
model : representation of something often too difficult (or impossible) to display directly
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
order of magnitude : the size of a quantity as it relates to a power of 10
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
percent uncertainty : the ratio of the uncertainty of a measurement to the measured value, expressed as a percentage
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
physical quantity : characteristic or property of an object that can be measured or calculated from other measurements
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
physics : science concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time; especially interested in what fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
precision : the degree to which repeated measurements agree with each other
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
second : the SI unit for time, abbreviated s
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
SI units : the international system of units that scientists in most countries have agreed to use; includes units such as meters, liters, and grams
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
significant figures : used to express the precision of a measuring tool used to measure a value
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
theory : testable explanation for patterns in nature supported by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of researchers
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
uncertainty : a quantitative measure of how much measured values deviate from one another
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
units : standards used for expressing and comparing measurements
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-key-terms
Physics is about trying to find the simple laws that describe all natural phenomena.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
Physics operates on a vast range of scales of length, mass, and time. Scientists use the concept of the order of magnitude of a number to track which phenomena occur on which scales. They also use orders of magnitude to compare the various scales.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
Scientists attempt to describe the world by formulating models, theories, and laws.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
Systems of units are built up from a small number of base units, which are defined by accurate and precise measurements of conventionally chosen base quantities. Other units are then derived as algebraic combinations of the base units.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
Two commonly used systems of units are English units and SI units. All scientists and most of the other people in the world use SI, whereas nonscientists in the United States still tend to use English units.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
The SI base units of length, mass, and time are the meter (m), kilogram (kg), and second (s), respectively.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
SI units are a metric system of units, meaning values can be calculated by factors of 10. Metric prefixes may be used with metric units to scale the base units to sizes appropriate for almost any application.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
To convert a quantity from one unit to another, multiply by conversion factors in such a way that you cancel the units you want to get rid of and introduce the units you want to end up with.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
Be careful with areas and volumes. Units obey the rules of algebra so, for example, if a unit is squared we need two factors to cancel it.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
The dimension of a physical quantity is just an expression of the base quantities from which it is derived.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
All equations expressing physical laws or principles must be dimensionally consistent. This fact can be used as an aid in remembering physical laws, as a way to check whether claimed relationships between physical quantities are possible, and even to derive new physical laws.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
An estimate is a rough educated guess at the value of a physical quantity based on prior experience and sound physical reasoning. Some strategies that may help when making an estimate are as follows:Get big lengths from smaller lengths.Get areas and volumes from lengths.Get masses from volumes and densities.If all else...
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary
Get big lengths from smaller lengths.
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-summary