Gravitational lensing of distant, faint irregular galaxies may be the key to:
A)mapping the dark matter.
B)quasar energy production.
C)understanding galactic rotation curves.
D)understanding active galactic nuclei.
E)determining galactic redshifts.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gravitational lensing can distort the light from distant, faint galaxies and produce multiple images, arcs, and rings around a foreground massive object. By analyzing the positions, shapes, and orientations of these lensed features, astronomers can infer the distribution of the intervening matter, both luminous and dark. This provides a direct way to map the gravitational potential of the lens, which reflects the underlying distribution of dark matter. Therefore, studying gravitational lensing of distant, faint irregular galaxies can help us understand the nature and properties of dark matter, which is one of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics. Gravitational lensing occurs when the gravity of a massive object like a galaxy or cluster of galaxies bends the light from a more distant object, like a faint irregular galaxy. By observing the distorted, magnified images of these galaxies, astronomers can map the distribution of the intervening mass, including the distribution of dark matter.

Gravitational Lensing of Distant, Faint Irregular Galaxies May Be the Key