Prediction from Big Bang Model:
Abundance of the light elements
• Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
– T, both high enough at start to fuse protons into heavier
elements
– T,   both dropping quickly so only have time enough to
fuse a certain amount.
– Simple models of expansion predict 24% abundance He
• 24% is the amount of He observed*
– Abundance of 2H, 3He, 7Li depends on normal matter
• Suggests normal matter is only 5% of critical
• But we need to also consider “dark matter” and its gravity