Which is evidence for the existence of dark energy?(1 point)
Responses
Pulsars that seem to be moving closer at an accelerating rate.
Pulsars that seem to be moving closer at an accelerating rate.
Black holes that are expanding at a constant rate.
Black holes that are expanding at a constant rate.
Galaxies that are rotating at a constant rate.
Galaxies that are rotating at a constant rate.
Supernovae that are moving away at an accelerating rate.
Supernovae that are moving away at an accelerating rate.
The evidence for the existence of dark energy is supernovae that are moving away at an accelerating rate.
The evidence for the existence of dark energy is the observation of supernovae that are moving away at an accelerating rate. To understand how this provides evidence for dark energy, we need to look at the expansion of the universe.
Initially, scientists believed that the expansion of the universe was slowing down due to the gravitational pull between galaxies. However, in the late 1990s, researchers studying distant supernovae made a surprising discovery. They found that these supernovae were moving away from us faster than expected, indicating an accelerating expansion of the universe.
This observation led to the concept of dark energy. Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that is thought to permeate all of space and is responsible for the acceleration of the universe's expansion. It is called "dark" because it does not interact with light or other electromagnetic radiation, making it difficult to detect directly.
By observing supernovae and measuring their distances and redshifts (which tell us how fast they are moving away from us), scientists have gathered evidence that supports the existence of dark energy. The fact that these supernovae are moving away at an accelerating rate suggests that there is an unseen force pushing them apart, and this force is attributed to dark energy.
To summarize, the evidence for the existence of dark energy comes from the observation of supernovae that are moving away from us at an accelerating rate, indicating an accelerating expansion of the universe.