Chapter One: Lesson 1.1: The Universe and the Big Bang Theory
- 1. Chapter I Formation of Elements Found in the Universe
- 3. Lesson 1.1 The Big Bang Theory Objectives: 1. Describe the big bang; 2. Describe the formation of light elements found in the universe seconds after the big bang; and 3. Give evidence for the formation of light elements after the big bang.
- 4. Group Activity No. 1 A Model of an Expanding Universe Objective: To make a model of an expanding universe Procedure: 1. Prepare the following materials: 1 balloon (not red or black) 2 marker pens (1 red, 1 black) 1 tape measure
- 5. 2. Make a data table with 5 columns and 10 rows like the one shown below: Dots Distance from the dot at the center (I) Distance from the dot at the center after expansion (II) Change of distance from the center (II – I) Factor by which distances change (II ÷ I) A B C D E F G H I
- 6. 3. Ask the teammate to blow the balloon with air until it is stretched tight and hold it closed. 4. Using the tape measure, measure its diameter. 5. Draw red dots on the surface of the balloon about two centimeters apart ( see illustration) 6. Locate a central dot and encircle it with a black marker. 7. Choose 10 dots – some far and some near the central dot. Label these dots A to I.
- 7. 8. Measure the distances of dots A to I from the central dot. Record these distances in column 2 of your data table. 9. Have your seatmate blow again the balloon. This time, measure the distance of dots A to I from the central dot. Record the distances in column 3 of the data table. 10. Subtract the data in column 2 from the corresponding data in column 3. Record the resulting data in column 4. 11. Divide the data in column 3 by the corresponding data in column 2. Record your answer in column 5.
- 8. Analysis: 1. What does blowing the balloon represent? 2. Compare the data in column 2 with the data in column 4. Explain your answer. 3. Compare the set of data in column 2 with the set of data in column 5. Explain your answer. 4. What conclusion can be drawn about the universe based on the activity?
- 9. The Big Bang Theory Expanding Balloon – Dots - Expanding Universe Galaxies
- 10. Astronomers and thinker in the ancient world thought that all the matter in the galaxies were once packed together in a very dense mass. They thought that this mass exploded 15 billion years ago in a big bang where the center cannot be determined since it occurred everywhere in the space at the same time.
- 11. Questions regarding the beginning of the universe started to have answers when, in early 20th century, scientists and astronomers were puzzled by the fuzzy patches in the telescope photographs of a distant universe.
- 12. These issues were finally resolved when in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble proved, using 2.5-m telescope at California’s Mt. Wilson Observatory, that the nebulae were distance galaxies containing 109 to 1013 stars.
- 13. In 1948, the Russian-American physicist George Gamow, together with his student Ralph Alpher, and the nuclear scientist Hans Bethe, put forward a paper hypothesizing that the universe burst into being a gigantic explosion or a big bang several billions of years ago.
- 14. The burning fireball of radiation mixed with minute particles of matter gradually cooled which allowed for the formation of atoms. These atoms clumped together due to the influence of gravity to form billions of galaxies. One of them is our Milky Way galaxy.
- 15. The big bang theory states that the universe was formed 15 billion years ago in a great explosion. It has been expanding since then.
- 16. The following pieces of evidences support the Big Bang off George Gamow: a.Measurements showed that the universe is expanding and that galaxies are moving away from one another.
- 17. B. A cosmic background radiation was detected. The radiation observed was the same in all directions and found to be independent of direction.
- 18. c. Primordial helium was discovered. Scientists believe that helium and hydrogen were the first to be formed in the early stages of the evolution of the universe.
- 20. Evolution of the Universe according to the Big Bang Theory From time zero (13.8 billion years ago) until 10- 43 second later, all matter and energy in the universe existed as a hot, dense, tiny state. It then underwent extremely rapid, exponential inflation until 10-32 second later after which and until 10 seconds from time zero, conditions allowed the existence of only quarks, hadrons, and leptons.
- 22. Evolution of the Universe according to the Big Bang Theory Then, Big Bang nucleosynthesis took place and produced protons, neutrons, atomic nuclei, and then hydrogen, helium, and lithium until 20 minutes after time zero when sufficient cooling did not allow further nucleosynthesis.
- 24. Evolution of the Universe according to the Big Bang Theory From then on until 380,000 years, the cooling universe entered a matter- dominated period when photons decoupled from matter and light could travel freely as still observed today in the form of cosmic microwave background radiation.
- 26. Evolution of the Universe according to the Big Bang Theory As the universe continued to cool down, matter collected into clouds giving rise to only stars after 380,000 years and eventually galaxies would form after 100 million years from time zero during which, through nucleosynthesis in stars, carbon and elements heavier than carbon were produced.
- 28. Evolution of the Universe according to the Big Bang Theory From 9.8 billion years until the present, the universe became dark- energy dominated and underwent accelerating expansion. At about 9.8 billion years after the big bang, the solar system was formed.