Cosmological constant problem

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cosmological-constant-problem

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the theoretical framework?General relativity and quantum field theory
2. What is the observed phenomenon?Accelerated expansion of the universe
3. What does the cosmological constant mean?It is a term Einstein added to describe a special kind of energy that lives in empty space and pushes against gravity, making the universe expand.
4. Why is the universe expanding faster?Scientists saw distant exploding stars called supernovae that were fainter than expected, showing that space is growing faster over time.

Vacuum Energy Density: The energy inherent in empty space due to quantum fluctuations.
Type Ia Supernovae: Exploding stars with a consistent peak brightness, used as 'standard candles' to measure cosmic distances.
Quantum Gravity: A theoretical framework aiming to unify general relativity and quantum mechanics.
Anthropic Principle: The idea that the universe's properties are constrained by the requirement that life must exist to observe them.