Book to study the big bang theory

In summary, for those seeking to understand the big bang theory and its mathematical foundations, A.Liddle's 'Introduction to modern cosmology' and B.Ryden's 'Introduction to cosmology' are recommended. Both books only require a basic understanding of high school/first year university physics and calculus. After completing these books, additional resources such as Peebles' works can be explored, but a thorough understanding of general relativity is necessary for more advanced studies.
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Could you recommend a book to study the big bang theory?
Could you recommend a book to study the big bang theory and the background necessary, mainly in math, to understand the theory rigorously?
 
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If you haven't studied it before, start with A.Liddle's 'Introduction to modern cosmology', or B.Ryden's 'Introduction to cosmology'. Both require little more than being comfortable with secondary school/first semester university physics and calculus. The former is more concise and clearly structured, the latter includes more information.
Once you've worked through either (or both) of these, you can look at the further reading sections for more recommendations (e.g. Peebles). However, it must be said that pretty much anything more advanced will require being conversant with general relativity, with all the background that requires.
 
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1. What is the big bang theory?

The big bang theory is a scientific explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe. It suggests that the universe began as a single point of infinite density and has been expanding and cooling ever since.

2. What evidence supports the big bang theory?

There are several pieces of evidence that support the big bang theory, including the cosmic microwave background radiation, the abundance of light elements in the universe, and the redshift of galaxies. These all point to a universe that began in a hot, dense state and has been expanding for billions of years.

3. How does the big bang theory explain the formation of galaxies and stars?

The big bang theory suggests that as the universe expanded and cooled, matter and energy began to clump together due to gravitational forces. These clumps eventually formed into galaxies, and within these galaxies, stars were formed through the process of nuclear fusion.

4. Can the big bang theory be tested?

Yes, the big bang theory can be tested through observations and experiments. Scientists can study the cosmic microwave background radiation, the distribution of galaxies, and the abundance of elements in the universe to gather evidence that supports or challenges the theory.

5. Are there any competing theories to the big bang theory?

Yes, there are some alternative theories to the big bang, such as the steady state theory and the oscillating universe theory. However, these theories do not have as much evidence to support them as the big bang theory does.

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