Agenda
Part 2 of projects due Observations Wed & Thurs 8pm if weather nice (can check web) Lab 2 Solar Altitude Lab Due 4/18 (ask questions Thursday)
Ch. 22Dark Matter Let out early for Religion and Science at 3:30pm
Mass-to-Light Ratio
is the mass of a galaxy divided by its luminosity.
we measure both mass [M ] and luminosity [L ] in Solar units
Within the orbit of the Sun, M/L = 6 M / L for the Milky Way
this is typical for the inner regions of most spiral galaxies for inner regions of elliptical galaxies, M/L = 10 M / L
not surprising since ellipticals contain dimmer stars
In Elliptical Galaxies
there is no gas measure the average orbital speeds of stars at various distances use broadened absorption lines
Results indicate that dark matter lies beyond the visible galaxy.
we can not measure the total amount of dark matter, since we can see only the motions of stars
Intracluster Medium is the hot (107108 K) gas between the cluster galaxies
this gas emits X-rays from the X-ray spectrum, we can calculate the temperature this tells us the average speed of the gas particles again, we can estimate mass
The angle at which the light is bent depends on the mass of the cluster.
by analyzing lensed images, we can calculate cluster mass
All previous methods for finding mass depended on Newtons Law of Gravity.
this method uses a different theory of gravity
(optical)
(X-ray)
However, some or all of dark matter could be made of particles which we have yet to discover.
this would find this to be extraordinary matter
their masses are so low & speeds so high, they will escape the gravitational pull of a galaxythey can not account for the dark matter observed
We project that Universal structure began with slight enhancements in the density of matter in the early Universe.
these regions collapsed into protogalactic clouds to form galaxies individual galaxies fell in towards one another to form clusters individual clusters are now congregating to form superclusters
On scales of 108 ly, galaxies are distributed in gigantic chains and sheets surrounding great voids.
the chains come from the initial regions of density enhancement the voids come from the initial regions of density depletion
= redshift
We refer to the mass density required for this gravitational pull to equal the kinetic energy of the Universe as the critical density.
if mass < critical density, the Universe will expand forever if mass > critical density, the Universe will stop expanding and then contract
for greater Universal mass densities these supernova are farther back in time than even the models for an everexpanding (coasting) Universe predict
How does the distribution of dark matter compare to the distribution of luminous matter in spiral galaxies?
The luminous matter is concentrated in the disk, while the dark matter is distributed throughout the spherical halo and far beyond the visible light from the disk.
How does a galaxys mass-to-light ratio tell us how much dark matter it contains?
The mass-to-light ratio tells us how many solar masses of matter the galaxy contains for each solar luminosity of light output. Because we can estimate the mass-to-light ratio the galaxy would have if it were made only of stars, we know that any excess mass must be dark matter.
What are WIMPs, and can they account for dark matter?
WIMP is short for weakly interacting massive particle, and refers to undiscovered particles of extraordinary (nonbaryonic) matter that do not interact with light (instead interacting only through the weak force and gravity). WIMPs are the leading candidate for dark matter, even though we have not yet discovered such particles.
Astronomers now believe that most of any galaxys mass lies beyond the portions of the galaxy that we can see. a. Yes, because the orbital velocity of gas and stars remains fairly constant as we look farther from the galactic center, even beyond where most stars are found. b. Yes, because dark matter telescopes show massive halos well beyond where stars are found. c. Yes, because the mass-to-light ratio of galaxies is much less than the value for the Sun. d. Yes, because the mass-to-light ratio of galaxies is much greater than the value for the Sun. e. No, once we take into consideration the gas in a galaxy as well as the stars, we can account for all its mass.
Astronomers now believe that most of any galaxys mass lies beyond the portions of the galaxy that we can see. a. Yes, because the orbital velocity of gas and stars remains fairly constant as we look farther from the galactic center, even beyond where most stars are found. b. Yes, because dark matter telescopes show massive halos well beyond where stars are found. c. Yes, because the mass-to-light ratio of galaxies is much less than the value for the Sun. d. Yes, because the mass-to-light ratio of galaxies is much greater than the value for the Sun. e. No, once we take into consideration the gas in a galaxy as well as the stars, we can account for all its mass.
If our galaxy had less dark matter, its mass-to-light ratio would be lower. a. Yes, because the galaxy would have less mass but higher luminosity. b. Yes, because the amount of mass divided by the amount of starlight would be lower. c. No, because the amount of mass divided by the amount of starlight would be higher. d. No, if there was less dark matter, there would be less light so the mass-to-light ratio would stay the same. e. No, if there was less dark matter, there would be less light so the mass-to-light ratio would be higher.
If our galaxy had less dark matter, its mass-to-light ratio would be lower. a. Yes, because the galaxy would have less mass but higher luminosity. b. Yes, because the amount of mass divided by the amount of starlight would be lower. c. No, because the amount of mass divided by the amount of starlight would be higher. d. No, if there was less dark matter, there would be less light so the mass-to-light ratio would stay the same. e. No, if there was less dark matter, there would be less light so the mass-to-light ratio would be higher.
A cluster of galaxies is held together by the mutual gravitational attraction of all the stars in the clusters galaxies. a. Yes, in the same way that the mutual gravitational attraction of all the stars in the Milky Way holds it together. b. Yes, a large cluster can contain many billions of stars, sufficient to hold the cluster together. c. No, the amount of mass in a clusters stars is much lower than the amount needed to hold the cluster together. d. No, X-ray observations show that the hot gas between the clusters has enough mass to hold clusters together. e. No, the focusing effect of gravitational lensing prevents individual galaxies from leaving a cluster.
A cluster of galaxies is held together by the mutual gravitational attraction of all the stars in the clusters galaxies. a. Yes, in the same way that the mutual gravitational attraction of all the stars in the Milky Way holds it together. b. Yes, a large cluster can contain many billions of stars, sufficient to hold the cluster together. c. No, the amount of mass in a clusters stars is much lower than the amount needed to hold the cluster together. d. No, X-ray observations show that the hot gas between the clusters has enough mass to hold clusters together. e. No, the focusing effect of gravitational lensing prevents individual galaxies from leaving a cluster.
So far, clusters of galaxies are the largest structures that have been detected in the universe. a. Yes, some clusters have been found to contain thousands of galaxies. b. Yes, the largest clusters stretch halfway across the sky. c. No, there are several nearby galaxies that have a much larger angular size than distant galaxy clusters. d. No, clusters are themselves parts of even larger superclusters. e. No, quasars are the largest objects in the universe.
So far, clusters of galaxies are the largest structures that have been detected in the universe. a. Yes, some clusters have been found to contain thousands of galaxies. b. Yes, the largest clusters stretch halfway across the sky. c. No, there are several nearby galaxies that have a much larger angular size than distant galaxy clusters. d. No, clusters are themselves parts of even larger superclusters. e. No, quasars are the largest objects in the universe.
The primary evidence for an accelerating universe comes from observations of young stars in the Milky Way. a. Yes, observations show that there were many more young, massive stars in the early universe. b. Yes, the supernova that results at the end of a massive star allows us to measure the expansion rate of the universe. c. No, in order to measure accelerating expansion, we need to measure the distances of objects billions of light-years away. d. No, evidence for an accelerating universe comes from observations of the oldest stars in the Milky Way, white dwarfs. e. No, we have to look at young stars in other galaxies beyond the Milky Way to measure the acceleration of the universe.
The primary evidence for an accelerating universe comes from observations of young stars in the Milky Way. a. Yes, observations show that there were many more young, massive stars in the early universe. b. Yes, the supernova that results at the end of a massive star allows us to measure the expansion rate of the universe. c. No, in order to measure accelerating expansion, we need to measure the distances of objects billions of light-years away. d. No, evidence for an accelerating universe comes from observations of the oldest stars in the Milky Way, white dwarfs. e. No, we have to look at young stars in other galaxies beyond the Milky Way to measure the acceleration of the universe.