Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/iii/paper-310/1/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 310 1 c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
For the open matter-dominated Friedmann solution, write , so . The present Friedmann equation gives . With and , the expanding equation becomesChoose the hyperbolic substitutionThen and . Their product givesTake the Big Bang to be , , and integrate. The parametric solution isThe parameter is determined explicitly byThus is conformal time multiplied by , with its origin at the Big Bang; it is not equal to unscaled cosmic time. In particular today . Small gives and , hence . Large gives , in agreement with the curvature-dominated universe limit.
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