Universe Presentation

UNIVERSE Presented by: Faeza Shams Muneeba Zafar

Introduction • The word universe derives from the Old French word univers, which in turn derives from the Latin word universum. • Interpretation of universum is "everything rotated as one" or "everything rotated by one".

The Universe • The Universe is defined as everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and constants that govern them.

• The universe consists of millions of galaxies and billions of stars, planets, black holes etc • The universe is believed to be 15 billion years old and 156 billion light years wide.

What is Cosmology?

The Study of the Universe: its structure, origin, evolution, and destiny

Our View of the Cosmos - the story of scientific models

Astronomy has seen 3 scientific revolutions in cosmology 2nd Century: Claudius Ptolemy (Physics of Aristotle) Model: Earth-centered Cosmology Big Idea: Different laws for Earth and the cosmos

16th Century: Nicolaus Copernicus (Physics of Newton) Model: Sun-centered Cosmology Big Idea: Universal physics; same laws everywhere

0th Century: Edwin Hubble (Physics of Einstein) Model: Big Bang Cosmology Big Idea: Universe is changing, evolving

Origin of the Big Bang Theory • Origin of the Big Bang theory can be credited to Edwin Hubble. • Hubble observed that universe is continuously expanding. • He discovered that a galaxies velocity is proportional to its distance. • Galaxies that are twice as far from us move twice as fast. • Another consequence is that the universe is expanding in every direction.

Expansion over time

• This observation means that it has taken every galaxy the same amount of time to move from a common starting position to its current position. Just as the big bang provided the foundation of the universe.

Evidence for Big Bang • Red Shift- as light from distant galaxies approach earth there is an increase of space between earth and the galaxy, which leads to wavelength being stretched. • In 1964, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, discovered a noise of extraterrestrial origin that came from all directions at once- radiations left over from the Big Bang. • In June 1995, scientists detected primordial helium in the far reaches of the universe- consistent with an important aspect of the Big Bang theory that a mixture of hydrogen and helium was created at the beginning of the Universe

Using the Doppler Effect to Measure Velocity

Early History of the Universe • Matter as we know it did not exist at the time of the Big Bang, only pure energy. Within one second, the 4 fundamental forces were separated – gravity - the attraction of one body toward another – electromagnetic force - binds atoms into molecules, can be transmitted by photons – strong nuclear force - binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus – weak nuclear force - breaks down an atom’s nucleus, producing radioactive decay

Early History of the Universe • After 3 minutes, photons and neutrons began to fuse to form the nuclei of hydrogen and helium atoms • About 300,000 years later, temperatures were cool enough for complete hydrogen and helium atoms to form • Photons escaped from matter about the same time, and light existed for the first time

Changing Composition of the Universe • 200 million years later, with expansion still occurring, stars and galaxies began forming from leftover matter - hydrogen and helium – nuclear fusion in stars has reduced the original composition of 100% H and He to 98% – when a dying star explodes, the heavier elements created by fusion are blown into space to be recycled by newly forming stars – the overall composition of the galaxies is gradually changing to the heavier elements

The Solar System - Its Origin and Early Development ■

Our solar system, part of the Milky Way galaxy, consists of the Sun, nine planets, 64 known moons, many asteroids, millions of comets and meteorites, as well as interplanetary dust and gases

General Characteristics of the Solar System • Planetary orbits and rotation – planet and satellite orbits are in a common plane – nearly all planet and satellite orbital and spin motions are in the same direction – rotation axes of nearly all planets and satellites are roughly perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic

General Characteristics of the Solar System •

Chemical and physical properties of the planets – the terrestrial planets are small, have a high density, and are composed of rock and metallic elements – the Jovian planets are large, have a low density, and are composed of gases and frozen compounds

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Slow rotation of the Sun Interplanetary material – existence and location of asteroid belt – distribution of interplanetary dust

Meteorites Visitors from Outer Space • Meteorites are believed to be pieces of material that originated in the formation of the Solar System about 4.6 billion years ago

Discovering the Galaxies • During early 1900’s astronomers were unaware that there were other galaxies outside our own Milky way Galaxy. When they saw a small fuzzy patch in the sky through their telescope, they called it nebula. When examined closely ,some of the nebulae had a spiral shape. so astronomers called these “spiral nebulae”. These nebulae were believed to be part of our Galaxy, our community of stars.

• Edwin Hubble studied the “spiral nebulae” and found that they were composed of stars. These nebulae were not nebulae at all, but other communities of billions of stars held together by gravity – galaxies.

Types of Galaxies • Spiral • Elliptical • Irregular

Spiral Galaxy • A Spiral Galaxy is shaped like a disk, usually with a bulge in the center and with arms that spiral outwards as the galaxy rotates. • Spiral galaxies tend to contain more middleaged stars along with clouds of gas and dust.

Elliptical Galaxy • Elliptical Galaxies contain older stars and very little gas and dust. • They can be different shapes ranging from round, to flattened, elongated spheres.

Irregular Galaxy • An irregular galaxy has an undefined shape and has lots of young stars, dust and gas.

ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF CREATION OF UNIVERSE • God is the Creator of everything; is the One, the Omnipotent. (13: 16) • Originator of Heaven and Earth, and whenever He decrees something, He says to it: ‘Be’ and it is. (2: 117) • Do they not see how God initiates the creation, and then reproduces it? Surely that is easy for God. Say: ‘travel in the earth and see how God initiated the creation’. Then God will create another creation; surely God has power over all things. (29:19-20)

Universe, Earth, and Heavens According to The Quran is that this universe—Earth and Heavens—has definite life period and has some definite objectives like other creations. Sura No 46, Ayah No 3 says:

•“We created not the heavens and the earth and all between them but for just ends and for a term appointed: but those who reject faith turn away from that whereof they are warned”.

Formation of Galaxies and Stars • The Quran hints at the formation of the heavens and the earth from the gaseous matter in Sura No 41 Ayah 11-12

Moreover He Comprehended in His design the sky and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together) in willing obedience. So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might Full of knowledge."

Uniformity of the Universe on large scale • Sura 67 Ayah No 3 says

• He Who created the seven heavens one above another; no want of proportion wilt thou see in the Creation of (Allah) Most Gracious so turn thy vision again: Seest thou any flaw?

Conclusion • If we compare the Islamic concept of creation of universe appears in The Quran and Current Big Bang theory, we can see that there are some features of Big Bang theory that are closely similar to the Islamic concept of Creation of Universe, for example, creation out of nothingness, initial singularity, concept of formation of galaxies from primordial gases, and uniformity of universe on large scale.