Dark Matter Basics
What is dark matter and why is it called "dark"?
It's a matter that doesn’t emit or reflect light—so we can’t see it.
What instrument is commonly used to observe galaxies?
Telescopes
What is a galaxy made of?
Stars, gas, dust, and dark matter.
What is one theory about what dark matter is made of?
Unknown subatomic particles.
Name a movie or show that mentions dark matter.
“Interstellar” or “The Expanse.”
What kind of evidence do scientists have for dark matter?
Galaxies rotate faster than their visible mass would allow.
What is a spectrometer and how is it used in astronomy?
It analyzes light spectra to study composition and motion of stars.
How much of the universe is made of visible matter?
Only about 5%
What is a WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle)?
A theoretical particle that could make up dark matter.
Which famous astrophysicist often talks about dark matter?
Neil deGrasse Tyson.
How much of the universe’s mass-energy is made up of dark matter?
+- 2%
About 27%
How do scientists use gravitational lensing to detect dark matter?
Light from distant objects bends due to invisible mass (dark matter).
What does it mean that the universe is expanding?
The distance between galaxies increases over time.
How does the MOND theory differ from the dark matter theory?
It changes gravity laws instead of assuming dark matter exists.
What famous space telescope helped us learn about the universe?
The hubble space telescope.
What’s the difference between dark matter and dark energy?
Dark matter affects gravity; dark energy drives expansion.
What did galaxy cluster observations reveal about dark matter?
There’s more mass than we can see.
How does dark matter help galaxies form?
It provides gravity for matter to clump together.
What does supersymmetry try to explain?
That each particle has a heavier partner (some may be dark matter).
What Stephen Hawking book mentions dark matter?
A Brief History of Time.
Why can't dark matter be seen through telescopes?
It doesn’t interact with electromagnetic radiation (light).
What role does CERN play in the search for dark matter?
They try to create or detect possible dark matter particles.
What would happen to galaxies without dark matter?
They wouldn’t have enough gravity to stay together.
What are axions and how are they linked to dark matter?
Hypothetical particles that might be part of dark matter.
What is the main purpose of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope?
To observe early galaxies and cosmic evolution.