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Early dynamical world models: A historical review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Helge Kragh
Helge Kragh*
Affiliation:
Department for Studies of Science and Science Education, University of Århus, Bygning 1110, C.F. Møllers Allé 8, 8000 Århus, Denmark email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Models of the universe, in the sense of solutions to the cosmological field equations, took their start in 1917 with Einstein's closed universe. During the next two decades they were developed to comprise evolving models, some of them cyclic and some of them with a definite age. The history of this development, as it occurred up to the mid 1930s, is reviewed. It is argued that in 1930-31, cosmology experienced a kind of paradigm shift.

Keywords

Expanding universecyclic modelshistory of cosmologyFriedmannEinstein
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S260: The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture , January 2009 , pp. 182 - 188
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011

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