What phenomenon provides support for the current models of the Big Bang?

Dive into the AST2002 Astronomy Midterm at UCF. Enhance your understanding through engaging flashcards and insightful multiple-choice questions. Prepare effectively and boost your confidence for this academic challenge!

The observed redshift of distant galaxies is a critical piece of evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. When astronomers observe light from distant galaxies, they notice that the wavelengths of this light are stretched, causing it to shift towards the red end of the spectrum. This phenomenon indicates that these galaxies are moving away from us. According to Hubble's law, the farther away a galaxy is, the faster it appears to be receding. This observation is consistent with the concept of an expanding universe, which is a fundamental aspect of the Big Bang theory.

This redshift is not just a simple observation; it reflects the overall expansion of space itself, which suggests that the universe has been expanding since its origin in the Big Bang. The more significant the redshift, the faster the galaxy is moving away, reinforcing the idea that the universe has a dynamic and evolving structure that began expanding from a hot, dense state.

The other phenomena, while important in their own right, do not specifically provide the same level of direct support for the Big Bang theory. The discovery of black holes contributes to our understanding of stellar evolution and gravity, the expansion of the Milky Way is a local phenomenon and doesn't address the universe's overall expansion, and while the cosmic microwave background

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