An Expanding Universe Explained
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsAn Expanding Universe Explained
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsREVIEW: AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE
RODRIGUEZ, LUIS FELIPE. A UNIVERSE IN EXPANSION. MEXICO.
SCIENCE FOR EVERYONE. 2004. 110 PAGES.
An expanding universe is a scientific text written by Luis Felipe
Rodríguez, Mexican astronomer currently director of the Institute of
Astronomy of UNAM is part of the collection Science for Everyone.
This book was written in a specialized but understandable language so that the
young people let's clarify our doubts and ask ourselves about issues
such as: the main characteristics of our solar system, the role
what role do colors play in identifying the different types of stars and
the three possible deaths of these, also explains the existing theories
regarding the universe, everything it contains and the discoveries
most important astronomers.
The book begins by describing the main characteristics of our
solar system: the division of planets into outer and inner and that all
They rotate in the same plane and direction, except for Pluto.
The writer defines in his work the stars as giant spheres of gas that
they have their own brightness due to thermonuclear fusion (collisions of 4 atoms of
Hydrogen to form 1 atom of Helium) that occurs constantly in them,
in which some grams of Hydrogen do not convert into Helium and are
issued in the form of energy.
Stars are born, grow, and die; there are two aspects in which they can be...
differentiate: those with different mass and those with identical mass but in different
stages of his life; the astronomer can classify them according to the spectrum that
emit and by computer programs.
Most stars are born from material formed by gas clouds.
Free atoms of Hydrogen and Helium that are contracting due to the force of attraction.
of its particles, forming a nucleus (gravitational collapse), but still
This process could not be seen since the gas clouds are opaque. The author
explain the death of a star, which is caused by the cessation of the process of
nuclear fusion; stars can die in 3 different ways
depending on their mass: those with a mass of less than 6 solar masses (Sol)
increase in size and temperature until they become red giants,
then cool down and become a white dwarf; those between 6 and 30 explode like
supernovas becoming pulsars or neutron stars and mass ones
over 30 also suffer a supernova explosion and it is believed that they
they turn into black holes.
The next point to address is about galaxies, clusters of stars.
and gas in a certain form, there are those in disc shape like ours.
(Milky Way), spiral (Andromeda, the closest to us) and elliptical.
One of the most developed theories in the book is that the universe is in
constant expansion and is proven thanks to the equation V = HD, which is the
Hubble's law, V is velocity, H is the Hubble constant and D is distance.
This theory was proposed because through the graphs of the light spectra
From other galaxies, it was verified how they were moving away from us.
On the other hand, some astronomical discoveries are: black holes yes.
they have emissions; complex molecules in interstellar space, volcanism
In Io; the universe was formed by an explosion of a supernova and flows.
bipolar in star formation regions.
In conclusion, I really liked the book 'An Expanding Universe' because
I have always been interested in everything that surrounds us and we cannot see, it is a text
very complete and highly recommended, for the language used and for its
content, as it explains the history of the universe in a very small space.
Valentina