If the universal expansion is accelerating, how does this affect the age of the universe derived from the Hubble law?
A)Acceleration has no effect on the derived age.
B)The derived age is higher than if the expansion is constant.
C)It can either increase of decrease the derived age, depending on the density of the universe and the resulting curvature of space.
D)The derived age is lower than if the expansion is constant.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The acceleration of the universe's expansion implies that the universe has been expanding more slowly in the past than it is today. Therefore, when calculating the age of the universe using the Hubble law under the assumption of constant expansion, the derived age would be lower than the actual age. Accounting for acceleration increases the derived age, making it more accurate.

If the Universal Expansion Is Accelerating, How Does This Affect