How does the proportion of hydrogen and helium in the universe support the Big Bang theory?(1 point) Responses It is the proportion predicted to be present in the early universe. It is the proportion predicted to be present in the early universe. It demonstrates the rate of expansion predicted by the theory. It demonstrates the rate of expansion predicted by the theory. It proves that matter must be formed under high temperatures. It proves that matter must be formed under high temperatures. it shows that only simple elements are present in the universe.
The proportion of hydrogen and helium in the universe supports the Big Bang theory because it is the proportion predicted to be present in the early universe. This indicates that the initial conditions of the universe, as described by the Big Bang theory, were accurately predicted.
The proportion of hydrogen and helium in the universe supports the Big Bang theory in two main ways:
1. It is the proportion predicted to be present in the early universe: According to the Big Bang theory, the universe began as a hot, dense, and rapidly expanding state. Under these conditions, the primordial nucleosynthesis process occurred, which involved the formation of hydrogen and helium nuclei. The theory predicts that the majority of matter in the early universe would be in the form of hydrogen and helium, with hydrogen being the most abundant element and helium being the second most abundant. Observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation and the abundance of light elements in the universe strongly support this predicted proportion.
2. It demonstrates the rate of expansion predicted by the theory: The abundance of hydrogen and helium in the universe also provides evidence for the rate of expansion predicted by the Big Bang theory. The theory predicts that, as the universe expands, the space between galaxies and other cosmic structures also expands. As a result, the light from distant galaxies gets stretched and shifts towards longer wavelengths, causing a redshift. Observations of this redshift in the light from distant galaxies confirm that the universe is indeed undergoing expansion as predicted by the Big Bang theory.
The proportion of hydrogen and helium in the universe is one of the key pieces of evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. Here's how:
1. It is the proportion predicted to be present in the early universe: According to the Big Bang theory, the universe began as an extremely hot and dense state. As the universe expanded and cooled, nuclear reactions occurred, resulting in the production of light elements like hydrogen and helium. These reactions were only able to produce a specific proportion of hydrogen and helium, and this predicted proportion matches the observed abundance of these elements in the universe today. The fact that the observed proportions match the predicted proportions provides strong evidence in support of the Big Bang theory.
2. It demonstrates the rate of expansion predicted by the theory: The Big Bang theory also predicts that the universe is expanding. The observed abundance of hydrogen and helium in the universe is consistent with the rate of expansion predicted by the theory. This consistency lends additional support to the Big Bang theory.
3. It proves that matter must be formed under high temperatures: Another implication of the observed abundance of hydrogen and helium in the universe is that matter must have formed under high temperatures in the early universe. The formation of these light elements requires extremely high temperatures and pressures, supporting the idea that the early universe was hot and dense, as predicted by the Big Bang theory.
4. It shows that only simple elements are present in the universe: The predominance of hydrogen and helium in the universe also suggests that the early universe consisted mainly of these simple elements. The synthesis of heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, and iron occurred later in the interiors of stars through nuclear fusion processes. This discrepancy between the observed abundance of light elements and the relative scarcity of heavier elements provides further evidence for the Big Bang theory.
Overall, the proportion of hydrogen and helium in the universe provides significant support for the Big Bang theory. It aligns with the predicted abundance in the early universe, demonstrates the expected rate of expansion, supports the idea of high-temperature matter formation, and indicates the prevalence of simple elements in the early universe.