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Assignment 01 Questions

The assignment involves calculations related to the Hubble parameter, galaxy and star visibility distances, and the energy required to heat water using Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) photons. It includes questions on the range of Hubble times and distances, visibility in an infinitely large universe, and comparisons of distances to the Hubble distance. Additionally, it explores the volume of CMB photons needed for heating water and compares it to the size of the moon.

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Andreea Glavan
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4 views2 pages

Assignment 01 Questions

The assignment involves calculations related to the Hubble parameter, galaxy and star visibility distances, and the energy required to heat water using Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) photons. It includes questions on the range of Hubble times and distances, visibility in an infinitely large universe, and comparisons of distances to the Hubble distance. Additionally, it explores the volume of CMB photons needed for heating water and compares it to the size of the moon.

Uploaded by

Andreea Glavan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2022, Cosmology 475, Assignment 1

Due: Friday September 16, 16:00pm

1. [2 marks] There is currently controversy in the measurement of the Hubble parameter. Estimates range
from H0 = 68kms−1 M pc−1 (measured using the projection of the Cosmic Microwave Background) to
H0 = 73kms−1 M pc−1 (measured using the brightness of supernovae).
(a) [1 mark] What is the range of Hubble times covered (in Gyr)? What is the range of Hubble distances
(in Mpc)?
(b) [1 mark] What is the percentage change in the number of galaxies (or proto-galaxies) that are within the
visible Universe given the range of possible values of H0 .

2. [2 marks] Suppose you are in an infinitely large, infinitely old Universe in which the average density of
galaxies is ngal = 1 Mpc−3 , and the average radius is Rgal = 30 × 103 parsec.
(a) [1 mark] How far, on average could you see in any direction before your line-of-sight struck a galaxy?
(Assume standard Euclidean geometry holds true in this Universe).
(b) [1 mark] Compare this distance to the Hubble distance calculated in Question 1

3. [2 marks] Now do the same calculation for stars. Assume that the average density of stars is n? = 109 Mpc−3 ,
and the average stellar radius is equal to the Sun’s radius R? = R = 7 × 108 m. How far, on average could
you see in any direction before your line-of-sight struck a star? (Assume standard Euclidean geometry holds
true in this Universe). Compare this distance to the Hubble distance calculated in Question 1 [1 mark]. Given
your calculations in Q2 and Q3, interpret the density and brightness of objects found in the JWST deep field
image at the end of this booklet? [1 mark]

4. [4 marks] If you could harness the energy in the CMB, what volume of CMB photons would you require to
heat a bucket of water from 5C (cold lake water) to 35C (as commonly used for washing). Assume that the
bucket is 10 liters and the heat capacity of water is C = 4200Jkg −1 K −1 . If the volume containing the CMB
were spherical, what is the radius? How does this compare to the size of the moon?

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