Dark matter halo

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/dark-matter-halo

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 a dark matter halo?A dark matter halo is a huge, invisible cloud of dark matter that surrounds and holds a galaxy together, like a giant invisible hug.
2. Why do galaxies need dark matter halos?Dark matter halos give galaxies the extra gravity they need to stay together and help stars move in a way that bright matter alone can’t explain.

Lambda-CDM Model: The standard model of cosmology, describing a universe dominated by dark energy (Lambda) and cold dark matter (CDM).
Baryonic Matter: The ordinary matter composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons that makes up stars, planets, and gas.
Gravitational Potential Well: A region in spacetime where gravity is strong enough to trap or hold objects, facilitating matter accretion.
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): The faint afterglow of the Big Bang, providing a snapshot of the early universe's conditions.