Question

This quantity is a simple linear function in the Milne universe. This quantity depends on one minus the cosine of conformal time, which is the functional form of the y-component of a cycloid, in a closed, matter-dominated universe. In a multi-component universe, powers of this quantity are the weights for the harmonic (10[1])mean of each component’s density parameter that gives the total density parameter. This quantity squared multiplies the spatial components of the FLRW (10[1])line (10[1])element. (10[1])This quantity is obtained as a function of the age of the universe by solving (10[1]-5[2])the Friedmann equations. (10[2])This quantity, (10[1])and its first and second time derivatives, (10[1]-5[1])are used to calculate the deceleration parameter. This quantity’s (-5[1])time derivative, divided by this quantity, (10[1])equals the Hubble parameter. (-5[1])For 10 points, name this (-5[1])dimensionless cosmological quantity often denoted lowercase “a.” ■END■ (10[1]0[10])

ANSWER: scale factor [prompt on a or R until “a” is read] (The scale factor multiplies the spatial components of the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker metric.)
<Other Science>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Summary

2024 ACF Nationals2024-04-21Y2055%0%30%90.64

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Rasheeq AzadNorth Carolina BColumbia B5110
Richard NiuCornell AMichigan7310
Forrest WeintraubColumbia AMcGill7410
Alex AkridgeIndianaToronto A7510
Shardul RaoMinnesota ABrown90-5
Matthew SiffYale ACornell B90-5
Swapnil GargBerkeley AToronto B9010
Matthew LehmannWUSTL AJohns Hopkins9310
Jeremy CummingsWUSTL BChicago A9310
Mitchell ShaddenTexasSouth Carolina9510
Liam KusalikWaterlooChicago D10210
Tim MorrisonStanfordYale B102-5
Simon GorbatyDukeChicago B111-5
Rohan ShelkeBerkeley BNorth Carolina A11710
Quentin MotGeorgia TechArizona State121-5
Akshay SeetharamClaremont CollegesChicago C126-5
Jacob Hardin-BernhardtNYUHarvard1340
Nermeen RahmanChicago CClaremont Colleges13410
Tiffany ZhouFloridaIowa State1340
Brian LaiVirginiaKentucky1340
Eylon CaplanPurdueMaryland1340
Bryan UgazArizona StateGeorgia Tech1340
Mason YuBrownMinnesota A1340
James McCurleyHarvardNYU1340
Connor BlakeChicago BDuke1340
Caleb KendrickMarylandPurdue1340
Cory SmithKentuckyVirginia1340