Chapter 33, Problem 17Q

To determine

After Big Bang the atoms as opposed to bare nuclei, are unable to exist for hundreds of thousands of years. Explain it.

Answer to Problem 17Q

Solution:

For hundreds of thousands of years after the Big Bang, the temperature was very high and the particles in the universe had energies in the range of. This period saw the frequent collision of particles and antiparticles, constant exchange of energy and creation and destruction of nuclei. As the universe cooled to about, the kinetic energy of the particles came down, and electrons began orbiting the nuclei and remaining steady there. This resulted in the formation of stable atoms.

Explanation of Solution

The Big Bang model describes how the universe expands with time, for very high temperatures and densities. It also gives explanation for the cosmic microwave background, large scale structure and abundance of light element.