Gravitational lensing of distant objects by closer galaxies indicates that the
A) amount of visible matter in the galaxies accounts for only 10% of the total mass producing the lensing.
B) amount of visible matter in the galaxy is about 10 times too great to account for the observed lensing, leading to the idea of negative gravitation within such large-scale structures.
C) amount of visible matter in the galaxies is sufficient to account for the gravitational lensing.
D) total mass within the galaxies that produces the lensing exceeds the amount of visible matter by a factor of 100.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gravitational lensing observations have shown that the visible matter in galaxies (stars, gas, and dust) accounts for only about 10% of the total mass needed to produce the observed lensing effects. The remaining mass is thought to be dark matter, which does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects.

Gravitational Lensing of Distant Objects by Closer Galaxies Indicates That