Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

The Cosmological Principle suggests what about matter in the universe?

1. It is concentrated in the center.

2. It is evenly distributed on large scales.

3. It has different densities across different regions.

4. It results in visible galaxy clustering.

The correct answer is: It is evenly distributed on large scales.

The Cosmological Principle is a foundational concept in cosmology that posits that, on a large scale, the distribution of matter in the universe is homogeneous and isotropic. This means that when viewed at sufficiently large distances, the universe appears the same in all directions (isotropic) and has a uniform composition (homogeneous). The principle is significant because it underpins many cosmological models, including the Big Bang theory and the standard model of cosmology, which describe the evolution of the universe from a hot, dense state. The notion of large-scale uniformity implies that while local variations in matter density can exist—such as galaxies, galaxy clusters, and voids—the overall density averages out, leading to a consistent mass distribution when averaged over vast distances. Thus, the correct answer reflects the essence of the Cosmological Principle, which asserts that matter is evenly distributed on large scales, providing a foundational understanding of the large-scale structure of the universe.