The Big Bang and The Formation of the

Universe

Earth Science- Where It All Began

Welcome to the beginning…

Before understanding where we are now and what impacts humans have on the Earth, we need to learn about how the Earth got here.

First...what is the difference between the universe, solar system, and galaxy?

Universe

Solar System

Galaxy

Thresholds of the Big History

Key Focus Areas:

1. The Big Bang2. Star Formation3. Chemical Elements4. Earth and the Solar System5. Life on Earth

Recipe or Formula for thresholds and changes to occur:Right Ingredients + Goldilocks (Perfect) Conditions = New Complexity

Introduction to the Big History and how we got here

https://youtu.be/4CgsDk8zeIs

Stories and Ideas of the Universe’s Formation

Pan Gu & Egg World

~ Chinese Mythology~ Egg of contained chaos~ Pan Gu emerges

- Skies & Earth, eyes, breath, limbs, and blood

● Stories and ideas have been shared for centuries, will continue to be shared...and modified

The Great Turtle’s Island

~ Iroquois Indians~ World was all water~ Woman fell from sky- saved by swans~ “Great Turtle” ordered sea creatures

Genesis

~ Christianity~ God created everything and humans in its likeness

Science’s Belief of How the Universe FormedThe Big Bang Theory...In an instant, everything happens.

https://youtu.be/oYmKAHES_MU

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion

1. When did the Big Bang occur?

2. Very quickly after the Big Bang, the temperature dropped significantly, causing matter and energy to separate. What were the 2 main forms of energy?

Enough with the Cold Feet- The Proposal of the Big Bang Theory

1920’s- Georges Lemaitre - 1st proposed idea of expanding universe

** lacked proof, not accepted (Einstein not a believer)

1929- Edwin Hubble- observed with telescope the moving away of galaxies from other galaxies

** more accepted, but still not overwhelming support

1964- NJ Scientists Wilson and Penzias heard a “noise” (hissing) from their space antenna- it was later concluded that it came from energy that was released during the Big Bang (One of the largest pieces of evidence to support claim)

** During the video pay attention to how the scientists try to run a controlled experimenthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnL_ztPo6s

Star Formation

How did stars begin to form?

https://youtu.be/D4bDw1YlyDQ

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. What happened as the temperature began to drop in the universe?2. What were the key ingredients for star formation?3. What were the “Goldilocks” conditions for star formation?4. How did the stars form and why did they stop collapsing together?5. Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation6. What do YOU think could happen as a result of a universe full of stars?

Birth of Matter and Elements- CC

Formation of our galaxy and how elements were formed.

https://youtu.be/CYomswUKFuI

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. What key things does CBR (Cosmic Background Radiation) tell us?2. How did our galaxy form?3. What is a lightyear a measure of?4. Explain fusion.5. How did heavier elements form? And where are they found?

New Chemical ElementsFurthering our understanding of the formation of new elements.

https://youtu.be/Cxuzz7tHfIc

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. What were the 1st 2 primary elements?2. How are new elements formed?3. What is needed for the formation of new elements?4. Show an example of how new elements form.5. What conditions are essential for element/chemistry formation?6. Dmitri Mendeleev7. Henry Moseley

Welcome to our Solar System

Here we will gain a perspective on how planets in our solar system were formed.

https://youtu.be/GkKOmGzYOkc

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. About 98% of atomic matter in the universe is composed of what two

elements?2. What are the essential ingredients and conditions for a planet to form?3. What takes place during accretion?4. Why is it that the Earth does not have high levels of Hydrogen and

Helium compared to other planets?5. What are the four main elements that make up the Earth’s crust?6. When did the Earth form?

Jovian (Gassy Giant) Planets and Terrestrial Planets

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

Solar Nebula- 4.6 BYA

What is the Solar Nebula?

Where did the energy come from to start the Sun’s formation?

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

The Sun gains mass and becomes a protostar.

How does the Sun gain mass?

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

The Sun now becomes a star as it has gained the size and energy

What caused the Sun to become larger, hotter, and brighter?

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

The Sun today is about ½ way through its life cycle and will last another 4-5 BY.

How does a star such as our Sun “stop working”?

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

Our Sun is currently expanding even though we cannot notice it.

In ~ 3BY the sun will be about 40% larger.

How do you think a Sun that is 40% larger would look in the solar system?

What impact do you think that will have on Earth?

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

The Sun will eventually turn into a Red Giant.

What causes a star or the Sun to turn into a Red Giant?

What impact do you think that will have on Earth?

The Life Cycle of Our Sun

The Red Giant will eventually burn out and collapse.

As the Red Giant collapses and turns into a White Dwarf, what do you think happens to all the gases found in the outer layer?

After all energy is exhausted, it is believed that a White Dwarf will turn into a Black Dwarf.

Classification of StarsNot all stars are created equal...nor do they all look the same.

What classification of star do you think our Sun is?

How did our planets form? CCHow did our planets form how is our solar system organized?

https://youtu.be/yf6YvGb83H4

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. What is a key characteristic of planets and how does that kick Pluto out of

the planetary gang?2. When our star formed, its gravitational pull took in what percent of all

matter in the solar system?3. What possibly provided the energy for the Sun to compress and form?4. What is found between Mars and Jupiter? How did it get there?5. Where is Pluto located? What else is found there?6. What occurs during differentiation?

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. Explain what the Earth was like in its earliest stages?2. Why was the Hadean Era beneficial?3. How did the moon form?4. When the Earth cooled what happened?5. What does plate tectonics impact?

The Coevolution of the Earth and Life on EarthLet’s be egocentric (or is it geocentric) and focus on us...the Earth.

https://youtu.be/37neOk42UJs

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. All life on Earth share what qualities?2. What are the key ingredients and conditions needed for life on Earth?3. Why can there not be life on all planets?

The Coevolution of the Earth and Life on EarthFrom chemicals in the sky to conscious fun-loving humans.

https://youtu.be/CAjiDkoZntI

Video Follow-Up Questions and Discussion1. What is photosynthesis?2. What are prokaryotes and explain why their migration from the bottom of

the ocean to the surface is so significant?3. How do eukaryotes differ from prokaryotes?4. What advantage does being multicellular have over unicellular?5. What key change happened due to the development of the brain?6. What were the benefits and challenges of the advancement from being

aquatic to terrestrial (land)?7. What makes mammals so unique compared to life before it?8. How do we observe the coevolution of Earth and life on Earth?

Wait a second… I thought this was Earth Science NOT Chemistry, Physics, and Biology

Welcome to Earth Science!NEXT CLASS- QUIZ

For the weekend: you can write (NOT TYPE) an essay that encompasses what was learned over the 2 introductory lectures.

~ Don’t just write out bullets based on your notes! ~ Write a logical and progressive essay that tells of our transition

from nothing to where we are today.

~ You will be able to use your essay on your quiz, you will NOT be able to use bulleted or “statement” notes