How do we determine the conditions that existed in the very early universe?
A)The conditions in the very early universe must have been much like those found in stars today, so we learn about them by studying stars.
B)We work backward from current conditions to calculate what temperatures and densities must have been when the observable universe was much smaller in size.
C)We look all the way to the cosmological horizon, where we can see the actual conditions that prevailed all the way back to the first instant of the Big Bang.
D)We can only guess at the conditions, since we have no way to calculate or observe what they were.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Scientists use mathematical models and physical laws to extrapolate from current conditions to the early universe. By working backward, they can estimate what the temperature, density, and other conditions were like at earlier times. This approach has been successful in predicting the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is a remnant of the early universe.

How Do We Determine the Conditions That Existed in the Very