Class #11 (Feb. 12) Reading Questions - The Dark Side of the
Universe 1. Current observational results constrain to the total
matter (plus energy) density of the universe to the range
0.1<Omega<10 where Omega=Mtotal/Mcritical. Explain why this
result strongly implies that Omega actually equals exactly one
and thus, that the universe is "flat". 2. Explain the "horizon
problem" (giving the experimental evidence for this "problem")
and describe how the Inflationary Model solves this problem. 3.
Explain the connection between the Standard Model of particle
physics and the Inflationary Model of the universe. 4. Explain
how detailed measurement of temperature variations in the cosmic
background radiation (CMB) provide direct experimental evidence
that the universe is "flat". 5. What is "dark energy" and what
is the observational/experimental evidence for its existence. 6.
What is a type Ia supernova and why do these objects provide
nearly "ideal standard candles"? 7. What "shocking" result was
deemed the 1998 "Scie