The Big Bang

History of the Big Bang Theory:

The name "Big Bang" actually came from Fred Hoyle, who did not believe the theory and wished to discredit the idea, but the term stuck. (Fred Hoyle believed in the Steady State model of the universe, the competition of the Big Bang theory in the mid-twentieth century.) The Big Bang theory is the nearly universally accepted view of the universe.

What is the Big Bang?

The Big Bang Theory is a theory about how the universe as we know it began. This theory is

that everything started off in a very dense, hot state. Then as time passes the universe expands and cools.

Several Theories of Possible Outcomes:

1. The "Big Crunch": If the mass density of the universe is greater then the critical mass, then it will eventually get to its maximum size. After it reaches that point the Universe will begin to collapse back to its original hot, dense state.

2. The "Big Chill" or "Heat Death": If the mass density is equal or less then the critical mass, the expansion of the universe will slow down, but never stop. The formation of stars will cease. This is because all the intersteller gas will eventually run out. The result of this will be all the stars burning up, leaving only white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes. Over a long period of time, the black holes will collide and the average temperature will approach absolute zero. Eventually the entropy of the universe will increase until there is no organized for of energy that can be used.

Megan G. and Leah E.

Sources and Links

Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc., 2005. 930-35.