WMAP

Definition

WMAP, or the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, was a NASA spacecraft launched in 2001 to study the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the oldest light in the universe. It provided high-precision measurements of the CMB, which helped scientists determine the age and composition of the universe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. WMAP was launched in 2001 and operated for 9 years, providing the most accurate measurements of the cosmic microwave background at the time.
2. The data from WMAP helped scientists determine the age of the universe to be 13.77 billion years old, with an uncertainty of only 0.059 billion years.
3. WMAP's measurements of the CMB revealed the composition of the universe, showing that it is made up of 4.6% normal matter, 22.7% dark matter, and 72.8% dark energy.
4. WMAP's observations of the CMB supported the Big Bang theory and provided evidence for the existence of dark matter and dark energy, two of the most mysterious components of the universe.
5. The WMAP mission was a major success, leading to a better understanding of the early universe and the fundamental properties of the cosmos.

Review Questions

• Explain how the WMAP mission contributed to our understanding of the age of the universe.
  • The WMAP spacecraft provided the most accurate measurements of the cosmic microwave background at the time, which allowed scientists to determine the age of the universe with unprecedented precision. By analyzing the properties of the CMB, WMAP was able to calculate the universe's age to be 13.77 billion years old, with an uncertainty of only 0.059 billion years. This was a significant improvement over previous estimates and helped solidify our understanding of the timeline of the universe's evolution since the Big Bang.
• Describe how the WMAP data supported the Big Bang theory and the existence of dark matter and dark energy.
  • The WMAP mission's observations of the cosmic microwave background provided strong evidence in support of the Big Bang theory. The data revealed the composition of the universe, showing that it is made up of 4.6% normal matter, 22.7% dark matter, and 72.8% dark energy. This supported the Big Bang theory's predictions about the presence of dark matter and dark energy, which are two of the most mysterious components of the universe. The WMAP data helped solidify our understanding of the early universe and the fundamental properties of the cosmos, further validating the Big Bang theory as the leading cosmological model.
• Analyze the significance of the WMAP mission's contributions to the field of cosmology.
  • The WMAP mission was a landmark achievement in the field of cosmology, providing the most accurate measurements of the cosmic microwave background at the time. The data from WMAP allowed scientists to determine the age of the universe with unprecedented precision, calculate the composition of the universe, and provide strong evidence in support of the Big Bang theory. WMAP's observations of the CMB helped reveal the presence of dark matter and dark energy, two of the most mysterious components of the universe. The mission's contributions were instrumental in advancing our understanding of the early universe and the fundamental properties of the cosmos, solidifying WMAP's place as a pivotal moment in the history of cosmological research.

Related terms

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): The oldest light in the universe, which was emitted about 380,000 years after the Big Bang. The CMB provides a snapshot of the early universe and its study has been crucial for understanding cosmology.

Big Bang Theory: The prevailing cosmological model that describes the early development and evolution of the universe, starting from an extremely hot and dense initial state known as the Big Bang.

Cosmology: The scientific study of the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe, including the nature of celestial objects and the relationships between them.