The study of the universe's structure and evolution.

What is the Hubble constant?

The rate of expansion between galaxies in the universe.

How is the density of mass calculated?

Mass per unit volume of a given region.

What is the Friedman equation?

A key equation in cosmology derived from energy conservation and Newton's equations.

What does the negative sign in the Friedman equation indicate?

Tendency for the universe to slow down if expanding or speed up if contracting.

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Cosmology Lecture 1

Stanford・64 minutes read

The study of cosmology at Stanford University delves into the modern understanding of the universe, tracing its evolution post-Hubble's discoveries to incorporate physics-based principles and equations. The dynamics of galaxies, the expansion of the universe, and the importance of the Friedman equation in cosmological studies underscore the continuous expansion and potential outcomes of the universe's evolution, ranging from re-collapse to expansion based on different energy levels.

Insights

Cosmology at Stanford University this quarter delves into modern universe understanding, emphasizing the isotropic nature of space and the cosmological principle that space is uniformly filled with particles.
Newton's gravitational formula, the Hubble constant representing velocity between galaxies, and the Friedman equation are key components in studying cosmology, revealing that the universe's expansion rate never reaches zero and proposing solutions like a scale factor expanding as time to the two-thirds power.