Questions for ‘The universe: How will it end?’ 

To accompany ‘The universe: How will it end?’

SCIENCE

Before Reading:

1. How do you imagine the end of the universe? Do you imagine it happening suddenly? Or do you imagine a gradual change? If you could witness the end of the universe, what do you think it would look like?
2. Come up with a one sentence definition for the word curiosity. To what extent do you think curiosity is important in science? Do you think people tend to overvalue, undervalue or appropriately value curiosity? Briefly explain your answer with at least one example.

During Reading:

1. List the names of three predictions for how the universe might end.
2. What does the acronym DESI stand for? Where is DESI located?
3. Katie Mack uses an analogy of playing with a chemistry set to describe her use of math equations in her research. What similarity does Mack draw between using a chemistry set and using equations?
4. What does it mean to say that looking into the sky is like “looking back in time”?
5. Which scientist do we credit with first describing how gravity behaves?
6. Explain the second law of thermodynamics in your own words.
7. Briefly explain how Lord Kelvin applied the second law of thermodynamics to how he imagined the universe changing with time.
8. Who do scientists credit with first coming up with the concept of the Big Bang?
9. What is cosmic expansion?
10. Why did scientists predict the rate of cosmic expansion would slow down after the Big Bang? (Hint: Use the word gravity in your answer.) To what extent did research support this prediction?
11. What do scientists mean when they describe dark energy as behaving like “negative gravity”?

After Reading:

1. This story mentions that as scientists learn more, they become less sure about how the universe will end. Point to an example of this phenomenon as described in this story. Do you think the phenomenon of decreasing certainty with increasing information is relatively common or uncommon in science? To what extent does this phenomenon occur outside of science? Give at least one example for the latter as you explain your answer.
2. Give one reason why scientists think understanding dark energy will unlock secrets regarding the beginning and ultimate end of the universe. Relate the concept of dark energy to cosmic expansion. Then, point to one theoretical scenario from this story that shows how changes in dark energy might affect cosmic expansion. Draw a sequence of cartoons to explain your answer. In this scenario, what would the end of the universe look like?