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| Dark Energy. Photo Courtesy of Deviant Art (deviantart.com) |
This semester you've been studying a lot about energy. Remember the equation for kinetic energy? k=1/2 m*v^2 right? Now I have a question for you: What is the equation, then for dark energy? And what role does it play in our universe?
The first question remains perhaps the greatest mystery in Physics, and in the universe. Nobody knows what dark energy is or how it works, but even the most intelligent, well-respected and prestigious scientists believe it exists and it has a purpose.
To the second question then, scientists believe that dark energy is what drives the acceleration of the expansion of the universe due to the Big Bang.
All of this information and much more came out of a project that would win the Nobel Prize in Physics 2011, as well as 10 Million Swedish Krona, or about 1.6 Million US Dollars. Three U.S. citizens are responsible for the discovery and became the recipients of the award: Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt, and Adam Riess.
These men spent upwards of two decades studying light emitted by supernovae. Based on their findings (which I will not pretend to understand or to be able to explain) they have postulated that the universe is expanding at an ever increasing rate. Of all the implications of this discovery, the most significant is that they know believe that the universe will end in ice.
SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FREEZING TO DEATH IN A COSMIC WINTER?
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! MWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!!!!!!!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! MWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!!!!!!!!
Read more about it at the website for the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
I watched the video. Its so interesting to think that the majority of the universe is made up of dark matter that we can't see. As long as a cosmic winter would be quick and painless once it hit earth, then I'd be alright with it I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're at peace with one of many your possible fates, Elamon. :)
ReplyDeleteIf we don't know what dark energy is then how do we know that it exist??
ReplyDeleteApparently we know that Dark Engery exists because of the effect it has on the universe. Dark Energy is the name scientists have chosen to represent the accelerating force which is causing the universe to expand at an ever-increasing rate. In other words, scientists have observed some force that is causing the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. So even though they don't understand how it works, they have just slapped a label on it unti they understand more. Did that help, or are you now more confused?
ReplyDeleteHeriberto colonists didnt know that electricity existed but it did. how do you explain that?
ReplyDeleteSo, if no one knows what it is or does, or even where it's at, HOW do they know it exists? I've always heard about 'dark energy' but that's all i've ever heard, the words. I've never heard it explained or described. So, for starters, HOW do they know it exists if they can't see it or explain it?
ReplyDelete~Rebekah Clayton
Basically the only reason we can account for dark matter is that there is not enough mass to create the gravity that exists. We see the effects of dark matter and realize that there must be some other kind of mass we cannot see.
ReplyDeleteSteven DiGiannurio
If the universe is expanding at an ever increasing rate, then is it possible that the universe can be moving faster than the speed of light, or will ever?
ReplyDeleteSteven DiGiannurio
Ok then, and Walter I don't know how to explain that, it is the colonists fault for not exploring that. Have the scientists figured out anything since knowing of this dark matter or are they at the same spot since before.
ReplyDeleteRebekah, they know it exists because of the effect it has on the universe. They have observed some force that is causing the universe to expand at an ever-increasing rate. They have chosen to call that mysterious force "dark energy".
ReplyDeleteSteven, that is both a good and a mind-boggling question. Theoretically, if the universe is accelerating at an ever increasing rate, then yes, at some point it would have to been to accelerate faster than the speed of light since the speed of light is a finite quantity. Good thought. Crazy though though.
ReplyDeleteI have a quite interesting question, are black holes and dark energy opposite forces ?
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting question. I don't know. It seems like it would fit though. Unfortunately though since we can't define dark energy then we can't define it's opposite.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt the universe is an owner of infinite mysteries. This is definitely a fascinating article.
ReplyDeleteHeriberto pointed out an interesting point. In what way are black holes and dark energy related? Are they related at all? Also, where does dark energy arise from? What is it origin?
In response to Steven’s question I do not think universe will ever move faster than the speed of light. As mentioned in the article, dark energy is what causes the universe to expand faster and faster, but where would you leave gravity. Wouldn’t dark energy and gravity have opposite effect since the last one is what causes things (planets, stars, or all in general) to be attracted to each other? So while one causes the universe to expand, the other one causes it to come closer. Do you think they somehow counteract each other?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Heriberto,I think that black holes and dark energy would have to be opposite forces.
ReplyDeleteWhat if there was black hole at one end of the universe that was sucking things in so hard that it accounts for the gravity we experience, and at the other end of the universe there was the source of dark energy causing it to expand?
ReplyDelete