In 1959, Lyttleton and Bondi suggested that the expansion of the universe could be explained if matter carried a net charge. Suppose that the universe is made up of hydrogen atoms with a number density N, which is maintained a constant. Let the charge on the proton be: ep = – (1 + y)e where e is the electronic charge.
(a) Find the critical value of y such that expansion may start.
(b) Show that the velocity of expansion is proportional to the distance from the centre.
a) Let the radius of the Universe be R and assume that the hydrogen atoms are uniformly distributed. The expansion will only occur if the Coulomb repulsion is larger than the gravitational attraction at a distance R
The Hydrogen atom contains one proton and one electron charge on each hydrogen atom
Let E be electric field intensity at distance R, on the surface of the sphere, then according to Gauss' theorem,
a) Let the radius of Universe be R and assume that the hydrogen atoms are uniformly distributed. The expansion will only occur if the coulomb repulsion is larger than the gravitational attraction at a distance R
The Hydrogen atom contains one proton and one electron charge on each hydrogen atom
Let E be electric field intensity at distance R, on the surface of the sphere, then according to Gauss' theorem,
Let us suppose the mass of each hydrogen atom mp = mass of proton and gravitational field at distance R on the sphere.
Then
Gravitational force on this atom is
Column force on hydrogen atom at R is
(b) Net force experience by the hydrogen atom is given by
Because the this force, the hydrogen atom experiences an acceleration such as
Where
The solution of equation 4 is given by We are looking for expansion, here, So
Velocity of expansion,
Hence, , i.e. velociy of expansion is proportional to the distance from the centre.