Formation of the

Universe

Prepared by:
LPZ
List of Important Terms
• Big Bang Theory – the prevailing cosmological model
for the early development of the universe
• Steady state theory – the universe is always
expanding
• Cosmic inflation theory – rapid expansion of space-
time
• Genesis theory – God made the universe and the
solar system
Formation of the Universe
o It is difficult to completely understand the formation of the
early universe because no human has ever witnessed it.
o The science of cosmology provides various hypothesis that
explain the origins of the universe based on its present
properties and characteristics.
o It should likewise be noted that advances in scientific tools
and instruments continuously help validate theories.
Different theories about the formation
of the universe

o Big Bang Theory

o Steady State Theory
o Cosmic Inflation Theory
Big Bang Theory
• Says that all matter and energy was concentrated into an area the size of an atom
and then it exploded—matter went out in all directions
oAccording to this theory, the universe was once
very small and very hot and then it expanded
over time until it reached its peak around 13.7 B
years ago
o 10 B ⁰ F (5.5 B Celsius) with fundamental
particles such as protons, neutrons and electrons
that either combined with each other or
decayed.
o the universe continue to expand until the
present.
Birth of the Big Bang Theory

• Georges Lemaitre - first suggested the Big Bang theory

1920s, universe began from a single primordial
atom/primeval atom or cosmic egg.

• Edwin Hubble - observed that galaxies are speeding

away from us in all directions, and from the discovery
of cosmic microwave radiation by Arno Penzias and
Robert Wilson.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory (Radiation Era)
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory (Matter Era)
The Big Bang Theory (Matter Era)
The Big Bang Theory (Matter Era)
The Big Bang Theory (Matter Era)
• universe is still expanding—objects are moving away from each other
Evidence that the Universe is expanding
1. Background Radiation: microscopic particles that
are still in motion—can be picked up as static
Universe Size
Steady State Theory
o The universe is always expanding in a constant average
density.
o Matter is continuously created to form cosmic or celestial
bodies such as stars and galaxies.
o It claims that the universe has no beginning or end in time,
and even though it is expanding, its appearance remains the
same over time.
Persons behind Steady State Theory
o Sir James Jeans-first proposed the SST in 1920
o Fred Hoyle- revised the SST
o Hermann Bondi and Thomas Gold- study SST as
alternative to the Big Bang Theory in 1948
o Toward the 1960s, much evidence was produced that would
contradict the steadiness or the unchanging state of the
universe.
o When certain galactic bodies such as quasars and radio
galaxies were found only at far distances in space, it just
disproved the idea that similar bodies are created and found
everywhere.
o This implies that the universe is actually evolving (and not
steady)
Cosmic Inflation Theory
o inflation- refers to the rapid expansion of space-time.
o The early universe was a rapidly expanding bubble of
pure vacuum energy.
o After the expansion and cooling arising from this
inflation, the potential energy converted into kinetic
energy of matter and radiation.
Person behind Cosmic Inflation Theory
o AlanGuth and Andrei Linde- physicists that
proposed this theory n 1980s.
Cosmological Principles
The universe isa said to be homogeneous (the same
everywhere) and isotropic (the same in all directions).
1. The universe has no edges. (homogeneity)
2. The universe has no center. (isotropy)
Genesis Theory
• “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.“ -
Albert Einstein, 1941
• Genesis, in the first chapter of the Old Testament, is the biblical story
of the creation of Earth and life and tells the story in the form of a
seven-day period. This essay is not about the seven days (here we will
assume that the “days” are allegorical); this is about what Genesis
says happened on each of those seven days of creation.
• The following explores the possibility of reconciling what’s in each of
the seven days of creation in Genesis with the prevailing information
of contemporary science.
• Below are listed the seven days of creation, day by day, and what
happened according to Genesis in the Old Testament. With each day
we examine how it corresponds with current scientific information. In
this comparison, the seven days are not important; it is the
description of what took place on each day, and in what order, that is
relevant.
Genesis: (First day) — 15 billion to 4.5 billion
years ago
• “In the beginning God created Heaven and Earth.”
Science:
• At some point in the history of time between, 9 and 15 billion years ago,
the origins of the universe began. There was absolutely nothing but
emptiness, when suddenly an infinitely hot and dense spot called the
singularity appeared. From that spot there was an unimaginable gigantic
explosion, called the Big Bang, and within less than a fraction of a second,
the entire universe was formed. This was the start of everything that exists
— matter, energy, time and every atom that was ever created. The sun and
earth itself were estimated to have been formed about 4.5 billion years
ago.
• This is the accepted scientific explanation for the start of the universe.
Genesis: (First day)
• “God said, ‘Let there be light.’”
Science:
• During the Big Bang, electrons caused very small packets of
light making the whole universe glow.
• The sun was formed 4.5 billion years ago along with the
Earth.
• So the start of the universe and then the start of the sun and
Earth on the first day of Genesis definitely coincide with
contemporary science.
Genesis: (Second day) — 4.5 billion to 3.75
billion years ago
• “God said, ‘Let there be firmament in the midst of the waters and let
it separate the waters from the waters.’”
Science:
• Water-rich asteroids and protoplanets collided with prehistoric earth,
bringing water. Later, gaseous emissions from volcanoes added
additional water. This occurred approximately 4.4 billion years ago.
Over the next several billion years, as the earth cooled, water vapor
began to escape and condense in the earth’s early atmosphere.
Clouds formed and enormous amounts of water fell on the earth. The
waters were separated, water on earth and water in the atmosphere.
So day two fits with science and is in the correct order.
Genesis: (Third day) — 3.75 billion years ago
• “And God said, ‘Let the waters under the Heaven be
gathered together in one place and let the dry land
appear.’”
Science:
• The beginning of the oceans and the separation of the
land mass areas occurred on Earth about 3.75 billion
years ago. Again, it fits with science and is in the right
order.
Genesis: (Third day)
• “And God said, ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed and
fruit trees bearing fruit.’”
Science:
• This section of Genesis’ third day is out of sequence. Plants, grass,
and fruit bearing trees, did not appear until after sea creatures.
Although microscopic single cell algae (bacteria or archaea microbes)
are a plant and appeared at this time, it is not the advanced forms of
plant life described in Genesis. Again, the appearance of flora did not
take place at this time according to contemporary science.
Genesis: (Fourth day)
• “And God said. ‘Let there be light in the firmament of
Heavens to separate the day from the night.’”
• Science:
• This phrase is confusing because the Sun’s creation was
earlier, so why is light mentioned here? There is nothing to
compare here between Genesis and science. The open
question is why light is repeated on day four.
Genesis: (Fifth day) — 3.5 billion years to 635
million years ago
• “And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures.
Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas...’”
Science:
• This is exactly what happened. Life began in the sea. The earliest
fossils of life, single-celled bacteria, are found in ancient rocks
deposited in the oceans 3.5 billion years ago. By 1.2 billion years ago,
the first complex multicellular life had evolved. The oldest evidence of
full animal life in the oceans comes from about 635 million years ago.
• Isn’t it incredible that 4000 years ago, ancient man could have
conceived that life started in the water?
Genesis: (Fifth day)
• “‘...and let the birds fly above the earth.’”
Science:
• According to contemporary science, this is out of
sequence. Birds did not appear until later.
However, flying insects did appear at this time,
and this could be a remote but possible
explanation.
Genesis: (Sixth day) — 250 million to about
6000 years ago
• “And God said, ‘Let the Earth bring forth living
creatures according to their kind; cattle and creeping
things and beasts of the earth according to their
kind.’”
Science:
• This is exactly as science reports: life began in the
water and then expanded onto land.
Genesis: (Sixth day)
• “Then God created man in his own image ... Male and female
created He them ... And God formed man of the dust of the
ground ... He took one of Adam’s ribs and made a woman.”
Science:
• Nothing in this section resembles science at all. The only
correct thing is that man was at the end of the chain of life.
One coincidence that has been noted is that just as Adam’s
rib was used to form another person, Eve, the first life forms,
single-cell organisms, divided to form other single-cell
organisms. Admittedly, this is a stretch.
Genesis: (Sixth day)
• “God said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth and
subdue it and have domination over fish of the sea and over
birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon
the Earth.’”
Science:
• It is obvious that today, man does have domination over
every fish, every bird, and every living thing that moves
across the Earth. Genesis was right: man dominates the
Earth.
Genesis: (Seventh day)
• “So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it because on it,
God rested from all the work He had done.”
Science:
• “Blessed and hallowed the seventh day.” This has nothing to do
with science, but it is relevant in that what Genesis said has been
reflected in life. Today all major religions have a holy day to rest:
Muslims have Friday, Jews Saturday, and Christians Sunday. Other
religions take a day of rest, and even nonbelievers do it. So that
matches perfectly with Genesis. Still, many question the idea that
God would rest. Why does God have to rest? Again, this is not a
scientific question, but it’s compelling nonetheless. But why not
rest? Christ, Moses, and Mohammad all rested, so why not God?
Divide the class into groups of 3. Have them accomplish the activity
below. If time permits, call some students to discuss their answers with
the class.
ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE THEORY WHAT DOES THIS THEORY STATE? WHO PROPOSED THIS THEORY? WHEN WAS THIS THEORY PROPOSED?

Which theory do you think is the most convincing? Why?