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Astrophysics & Cosmology FAQ

What is dark energy thought to cause?

Accelerating expansion of the universe. Dark energy (≈68% of energy density) is associated with accelerating cosmic expansion, discovered from Type Ia supernova surveys.

Short Answer

Accelerating expansion of the universe is the best answer.

Astrophysics questions often combine observation with first-principles physics. The winning move is to connect the measurement being made, such as luminosity, spectrum, redshift, or orbit, to the physical model behind it.

Dark energy (≈68% of energy density) is associated with accelerating cosmic expansion, discovered from Type Ia supernova surveys.

Why This Answer Is Correct

This is a Medium-level question in Astrophysics & Cosmology. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.

Good astrophysics reasoning always asks what the telescope actually measured and what physical quantity that measurement traces.

Choices At A Glance

  • A. Galaxy rotation curves
  • B. Slowing of cosmic expansion
  • C. Accelerating expansion of the universe
  • D. Formation of black holes

When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.

Topic Snapshot

Topic: Astrophysics & Cosmology

Difficulty: Medium

Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.