Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/iii/paper-310/1/c/solution

For the open matter-dominated Friedmann solution, write , so . The present Friedmann equation gives . With and , the expanding equation becomes
Choose the hyperbolic substitution
Then and . Their product gives
Take the Big Bang to be , , and integrate. The parametric solution is
The parameter is determined explicitly by
Thus 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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