AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: Red-shift
Space physics · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.8.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Red-shift", and every card links back to the page it came from. Separate science only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
9 flashcards · Free to study · No account needed
Sign in and GCSE Zone remembers what you know: cards you have nailed drop out of your study until they are due again.
Study this deck
Preparing your cards…
All questions and answers
Read through the full deck, or practise recalling each answer above.
What is red-shift?
Show answer
The observed increase in the wavelength of light from most distant galaxies.
How does a galaxy's distance relate to its recession speed?
Show answer
The further away a galaxy is, the faster it is moving away from us.
How does a galaxy's distance affect its observed red-shift?
Show answer
The further away the galaxy, the bigger the observed increase in wavelength (larger red-shift).
What does the observed red-shift of galaxies provide evidence for?
Show answer
That space itself (the universe) is expanding, which supports the Big Bang theory.
According to the Big Bang theory, how did the universe begin?
Show answer
From a very small region that was extremely hot and dense.
Since 1998, observations of ? suggest distant galaxies are receding ever faster.
Show answer
supernovae
What did supernova observations from 1998 onwards suggest about distant galaxies?
Show answer
That they are receding ever faster — the expansion of the universe is accelerating.
Why is the change of each galaxy's speed with distance evidence for an expanding universe?
Show answer
If all galaxies recede faster the further away they are, space between them must be stretching everywhere, not just objects moving through it.
Name two aspects of the universe that are still not understood.
Show answer
Dark mass (dark matter) and dark energy.
Want to create your own cards? Create a free account. AI generation uses credits.