The Big Bang

John K Clark (johnkc@well.com)
Mon, 3 Nov 1997 07:24:23 -0800 (PST)


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>>Me:
>>In 1949 George Gamow used the Big Bang theory to predict that the
>>universe would be full of microwave black body radiation at a
>>temperature of about 5 degrees Kelvin.

>Damien Broderick <damien@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au>
>John Clark wrote informedly as usual, with one exception: [...]
>Actually, the prediction by Geo. (which he pronounced `Joe') Gamow
>was 50 degrees K. So he was out by an order of magnitude. Not bad
>for a standing jump.

Damien I think you're wrong, ah, the stuff you said about Gamow I mean,
the things about me were rather more accurate. (:>)

On page 142 of The Principles Of Physical Cosmology by P.J.E. Peebles:

"Alpher and Herman (1948) corrected some numerical errors in Gamow's
calculation and used the result to compute the present temperature
predicted by this theory. Their value, 5 degrees K, is the first numerical
estimate of the present cosmic blackbody radiation temperature and again
quite close to what is observed. [2.7 K]"

On page 283 of Black Holes, Quasars And The Universe second edition by
Harry L Shipman:

"they put it at 5 K in their 1949 paper. Four years later Gamow set it at
7 K."

Actually I did make a mistake at the end of my last post when I talked about
my Hotel with and infinite number of rooms, I said:

"An infinite number of guests walk in and ask for a room. No problem, I just
tell guest #1 to move to room 2, 2 to move to 4, 4 to move to 8 ect."

I should have said move guest #1 to room 2, 2 to 4, 3 to 6, 4 to 8, 5 to 10
etc. That way all odd numbered rooms are free and my infinite number of new
guests have a place to sleep. Speaking of sleep, this should teach me to go
to bed and not post to Extropians when I get sleepy.

John K Clark johnkc@well.com

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