How is dark energy related to the theory of the Big Bang?(1 point) Responses It seeded the formation of galaxies and star clusters. It seeded the formation of galaxies and star clusters. It causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate. It causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate. It causes the universe to expand. It causes the universe to expand. It causes the spinning of galaxies.
It causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate.
Dark energy is related to the theory of the Big Bang as it causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate.
The correct answer is: "It causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate."
To understand the relationship between dark energy and the Big Bang theory, let's break it down step by step:
1. The Big Bang theory states that the universe began in a highly concentrated, extremely hot and dense state about 13.8 billion years ago.
2. The universe rapidly expanded and cooled down during a period known as cosmic inflation, which occurred within a fraction of a second after the Big Bang.
3. After the inflationary period, the universe continued to expand but at a slower rate. This expansion was initially thought to be slowing down due to the gravitational pull between matter and energy in the universe.
4. However, observations in the late 1990s revealed that the expansion of the universe is actually accelerating, contrary to what was expected.
5. To explain this accelerated expansion, scientists proposed the existence of dark energy. Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that is spread throughout space and has negative pressure. It is currently thought to make up about 68% of the total energy content of the universe.
6. Dark energy is believed to counteract the gravitational pull of matter and counter-intuitively accelerate the expansion of the universe. In other words, it is the force behind the expansion of the universe increasing over time.
So, to summarize, dark energy is related to the theory of the Big Bang because it explains the observation that the expansion of the universe is actually accelerating, which was unexpected based on earlier predictions.