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Physics Quiz - Waves - The Expanding Universe (Questions)

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.

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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. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. The shift seen when an object is moving towards us is not red, it is …
[ ] pink
[ ] blue
[ ] green
[ ] black
5. 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
6. 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
7. How long does it take the light from the sun to reach us?
[ ] Instantly
[ ] 2 minutes
[ ] 8 minutes
[ ] 20 minutes
8. What types of radiation are emitted by the Sun?
[ ] Infra-Red
[ ] Ultra-Violet
[ ] Light
[ ] All of the above
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
10. 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

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

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Physics Quiz - Waves - The Expanding Universe (Answers)
1. How do we know that the Universe is currently expanding?
[x] 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
2. 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
[x] All of the above
The idea of black holes was first suggested in 1916 by a scientist called Scwarzchild
3. The faster a star or galaxy is moving (relative to us), we say that the redshift is …
[x] 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
4. The shift seen when an object is moving towards us is not red, it is …
[ ] pink
[x] blue
[ ] green
[ ] black
The faster the object is approaching, the greater the blueshift
5. What happens to the wavelength of light from stars that are moving away from us?
[ ] It gets shorter
[ ] It doesn't change
[x] 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
6. What is blueshift?
[ ] When blue light is emitted from a source
[x] 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
7. How long does it take the light from the sun to reach us?
[ ] Instantly
[ ] 2 minutes
[x] 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
8. What types of radiation are emitted by the Sun?
[ ] Infra-Red
[ ] Ultra-Violet
[ ] Light
[x] 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
[x] 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. 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
[x] Test the evidence to ensure that it is reproducible
This is the scientific method
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