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Earth's Place in Universe
This set of projects will center on how Earth fits into the grand scheme of the Universe. The projects can be completed in any way that is best for you to demonstrate learning.
ESS1.A The Universe and its Stars
ESS1.B Earth and the Solar System
ESS1.C The History of Planet Earth
Learning Goal
You will be able to understand and describe how it all began from the universe to the formation of the Earth. Students will understand the different types of stars and how each goes through a life cycle and the idea that there may be more out there than just our universe.
March 10
Explain the Big Bang Theory. Be sure to include the moment of the explosion, the events in the seconds following the explosion up to the continuing expansion of the Universe. Provide evidence that supports the theory, including Cosmic Background Radiation
March 17
Describe the life cycle of a star. Include how a star develops, how it produces energy, the stages of its life and the death of a star. Include the differences involved between the size of stars and their death.
March 24
Explain the formation of the Solar System. Include the differences between the inner and outer planets (such as why the outer planets are so very far from each other), and information about the Kuiper Belt.
March 31
Explain different theories concerning the idea of multiple universes.
April 7
Details events concerning how the Earth formed. Include information leading up to the development of the atmosphere and oceans. Include how different cultures, such as Maine Native Americans viewed how the Earth was formed.
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED: - Each of these projects tells a story. Each piece of information is connected to the following term
Videos - Fabric of the Cosmos (part 4/4multiverse), Birth of the Earth, History of the Earth, The Big Bang Theory(origin of universe documentary), Journey to the Edge of the Universe, Star Formation & Explosion Life Cycle Of A Star (Documentary)
The Big Bang Theory
Origin - billion years ago
E- and protons
1st atoms - temps/time
stars/galaxies
Evidence of the Big Bang - how do we know it happened
Expanding universe - evidence that proves
Future of the Universe - describe three possibilities
Stars
4 stages
Nebula, main sequence, giant/super giant, death
Death possibilities
Color range/classification
Composition/energy
Information about our sun
Solar system
Theory of origin - How did the solar system form - Protosun should be a part of formation
Rocky vs gas - what are the differences between them
Why outer planets so far away from each other (not why they are so far away from sun, use what you already know about the outer planets and what they are made of to think this through)
Planetary facts - Three facts about each planet
Kuiper Belt - what is it, where is it found
Solar system exploration - Provide at least four examples of probes sent out into solar system(not telescopes and not the moon) with details about each
Multiverse
Possibilities - at least 5 with description of each
Earth formation
Origin - formation will include the following sequence(one concept leads to the next)
Meteorites/accretion
Surface temps/crust
Water come from / how were first oceans made
Atmosphere - what was the original atmosphere and how it transitioned to current
Maine Native American - Wabanaki creation story - (Penobscot and/or Passamaquody tribes)
MONTHLY PROJECT IDEAS:
Solar system origin
Universe origin
Nebula
Galaxies - types, formation
Stars - types, life cycle, sizes
Constellations
Planets - information on one, or each
Space/time
Stephen Hawking
Multiple universes
String theory
Supernova
Sun
Dark matter
Quasars, pulsars
Comets, asteroids
Kuiper Belt
Milky Way
Galileo
Copernicus
NASA space exploration program - history, future
Hubble space telescope
Casini, Voyager
CONCEPTS:
How the universe was created
Future of universe
Measuring distances in space
Origin of solar system
Venus v. Mercury
Why outer planets so big?
How a star develops
How a star gets energy
Death of a star
NOTES: - IF the information is indented under the word, it means it belongs to what is all the way to the left
The Big Bang
15 billion years ago - dense ball matter
EXPLOSION
very hot - 100,000 million degrees Kelvin
electrons, protons, neutrons free floating
too hot to combine
13 seconds later temp drops to 3000 million degrees Kelvin
universe rapidly expanding
after 300,000 years - temp cooled enough to form other stable atoms
H gas becomes dominant, along with He
clouds of H form first stars
Oscillating universe theory - universe is constantly expanding then contracting - every 80 billion years
Steady state theory - always was, always will be
Multiple universes (bubbles), parallel universes
Solar system origin
Catastrophic theory - binary star system, one exploded or passing star came close enough ripped material from sun
then....
Nebular hypothesis - collapsing cloud of gas, rotating rapidly forming central concentration disc of gas and dust
forms "protosun"
heavier materials circles closer to sun collected together from collisions forming planetisimals
lighter gases (He and H) collected further away - forming outer planets
Sol - made up of 73% H and 25% He
99% all matter in solar system
photosphere - outer visible surface of sun - 5530 degrees C.
center of sun 15 million K
10 million degrees C, H burns (fusion)
Mercury
36 million miles from sun
revolution 8 days
rotation 59 days
day length - 176 days
day temp - 662 F night temp -274 F
equator - 3031 miles
Venus
67 million miles
named after roman goddess of love
sometimes brightest object in night sky heavy atmosphere of H2SO4 and CO2
revolution 225 days
rotation 243 days
day length 120 days
equator 7520 miles
average temp 869 F
Earth
93 million miles
revolution 365 days
rotation 24 hours
equator 7926 miles
average temperature 59 F
Mars
142 million miles
revolution 687 days
rotation 29h 39m
equator 4222 miles
average temp -9F
2 moons
Jupiter
483 million miles
revolution 119 years
rotation 9h 50 m
average temp -238 F
16 moons
equator 88,729 miles
atmosphere H, He, CH4, NH4
giant red spot
named after Zeus
Io closest moon, Gannymede ice moon, Callisto furthest moon
gives off more heat than receives
Saturn
885 million miles
revolution 29.5 years
rotation 10h 15m
equator 74,565 miles
average temp -292F
11+ satellites
rings small icy rocks
Titan as big as mercury
Uranus
1783 million miles
revolution 84 years
rotation 16 hours
equator 31,566
average temp -346F
methane atmosphere
11 rings
Neptune
2794 million miles
revolution 165 years
rotation 18 hours
equator 29,826 miles
average temp -364F
H, He, methane
Triton moon
Stars and life cycle
star is mass of gases give off radiant energy
light and heat, xray, gamma, ultraviolet
range in color due to temperatures
blue - above 30,000 C
blue-white - 7500 to 30,000 C (rigel, sirius)
yellow-white - 6000 - 7500 C
yellow - 5000 - 6000 C
red - below 5000
made of H, He, then Fe, Na and Ca
Energy from?
first thought coal powered, but proved couldn't be, coal doesn't burn that hot
gravity - heat built from collisions comets asteroids
contraction hypothesis - collapsing due to gravity
1920's discovered atoms have nucleus
nuclear fusion and sub-atomic energy
conversion of H to He powers sun
distance in space measured by light year - distance light travel in year - 5.9 trillion miles (5,000,000,000,000)
nearest star - alpha centauri - 4.3 ly
sirius - brightest star - 9 ly
polaris - 700 ly
star life cycle
nebula - dark cloud gas and dust
70% H, 28%He
gravity causes nebula to collapse - spinning as it shrinks
pressure creates heat
at 10 million C - fusion begins
Main sequence - second and longest stage
energy generated from H --> He
giants and supergiants - third stage
almost all H fused into He
without fuel, core contracts under pressure of gravity
increased temp. caused He --> C
combination causes star to grow in size
Death (some possibilities, not all)
white dwarf -
end of helium
energy no longer available - loses outer shell to reveal core
gravity causes star to contract further
could still shine for billions of years more it is so hot and dense
either eventually die out (our sun will die out into ball of carbon) or if large enough mixed with enough pressure explode
nova - exploding star
supernova exploding giant star
neutron star - dense ball of neutrons
ASTRONOMY NOTEBOOK:
Students are to pick three constellations that can be found this time of the year (other than big dipper)
Will do five viewings for each constellations (trying to get them at five different times)
Record position in sky in relation to horizon - draw line bottom of page to rep. horizon, then show where constellation is in relation to it
Sketch of each, each night
Include anything else see (satellites, shooting stars, northern lights, etc)
Written description about constellation - history, major stars, misc.
Final product should be 1 page with description, then sketch pages on plain white paper (be sure to include direction - N,E,S,W)
ASTRONOMY INFORMATION CARDS:
Pick three objects in space to research and make information card
not what you did for monthly project or constellations
Need information and pictures on each page of card (4 sides)
Minimum of 25 facts per card
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