Relate dark matter to the development of the universe after the Big Bang. In 3-5 sentences, speculate on how the development of the universe would have been different if there had been no dark matter. (4 points)

Answer 1

Dark matter is believed to have played a critical role in the development of the universe after the Big Bang. Its gravitational effects helped to shape the large-scale structure of the cosmos by pulling ordinary matter together. If there had been no dark matter, the gravitational force exerted by ordinary matter alone would not have been sufficient to explain the observed distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters. This means that the universe would have evolved differently, potentially leading to a different arrangement and composition of cosmic structures.

Answer 2

In 3–5 sentences, describe massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) and explain their possible connection to dark matter.

Answer 3

Massive Compact Halo Objects, or MACHOs, are hypothetical astronomical objects that could potentially explain the presence of dark matter in the universe. MACHOs are believed to be made up of normal matter, such as black holes, brown dwarfs, or faint stars, that do not emit enough light to be easily detected. They are called "compact" because they have a mass comparable to traditional astronomical objects but are much smaller in size. MACHOs could contribute to the overall mass of the universe and help explain the gravitational effects observed in galaxies, thus providing a possible connection to dark matter.