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6 (a) The Earth's atmosphere absorbs electromagnetic radiation - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 (a) The Earth's atmosphere absorbs electromagnetic radiation. The diagram shows how the amount absorbed changes with wavelength. (i) How much of the visible light... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 (a) The Earth's atmosphere absorbs electromagnetic radiation - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Suggest why radio telescopes do not have to be placed high up a mountain.
Answer
Radio telescopes do not have to be placed at high altitudes because they detect radio waves, which can penetrate the atmosphere easily. Unlike visible light, radio waves are less affected by atmospheric conditions, allowing them to be effective even at lower elevations.
Step 3
Explain why scientists had to wait until the development of space flight before they could study cosmic background radiation.
Answer
Scientists needed space flight technology to reach above the atmosphere, which absorbs and distorts cosmic background radiation. Prior to the development of spacecraft, ground-based observations could not accurately capture this radiation due to atmospheric interference.
Step 4
Suggest why, when a galaxy has a very large red-shift, some of its visible light is not detected through the Earth's atmosphere.
Answer
When a galaxy exhibits a large red-shift, it indicates that the galaxy is receding quickly, causing its visible light to shift towards longer wavelengths, possibly into the infrared range. The Earth's atmosphere absorbs much of this infrared radiation, preventing it from being detected by ground-based telescopes.
Step 5
Describe how careful observation of electromagnetic radiation from distant galaxies as well as from the whole of space gave evidence supporting the Big Bang.
Answer
Careful observation of the electromagnetic radiation from distant galaxies has revealed a consistent red-shift, which suggests that these galaxies are moving away from us. This movement supports the idea of an expanding Universe, which is a fundamental aspect of the Big Bang Theory. Additionally, the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, uniform throughout the Universe, serves as a remnant of the early hot state of the Universe, reinforcing the Big Bang model.