Scribd
Upload
36 views4 pages

Els Lesson 1 Reviewer - 082730

There are several theories about the origin and evolution of the universe and solar system. The widely accepted Big Bang theory describes the universe originating over 13 billion years ago from an infinitely dense point. Regarding the solar system, the nebular hypothesis proposes it formed from a cloud of gas and dust, with denser areas collapsing under gravity to form the sun and planets as the cloud rotated. The solar system now contains 8 planets divided into terrestrial and Jovian categories based on their composition.

Uploaded by

pinieraaurapaula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
36 views4 pages

Els Lesson 1 Reviewer - 082730

There are several theories about the origin and evolution of the universe and solar system. The widely accepted Big Bang theory describes the universe originating over 13 billion years ago from an infinitely dense point. Regarding the solar system, the nebular hypothesis proposes it formed from a cloud of gas and dust, with denser areas collapsing under gravity to form the sun and planets as the cloud rotated. The solar system now contains 8 planets divided into terrestrial and Jovian categories based on their composition.

Uploaded by

pinieraaurapaula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

LESSON 1: THE UNIVERSE AND SOLAR SYSTEM

THE UNIVERSE
The Universe is defined as all existing matter and space considered as a whole. The observable universe is
believed to be at least 93 billion light years in diameter and constantly expanding since the big bang 13.8
billion years ago.
BIG BANG MODEL OF THE UNIVERSE (1929)
It describes the universe as originating in an infinitely tiny, infinitely dense point or singularity between to
13 to 14 billion years ago. The essential statement of the theory is usually attributed to the Belgian Roman
Catholic priest Georges Henri Joseph Edouard Lemaitre in 1927.

A. INFLATIONARY EPOCH (10-35 s-10-33s)


The universe expanded from the size of an atom to 1035 meters in width.
B. FORMATION OF THE UNIVERSE (10—6 seconds)
The universe continues to expand. It became distinct: gravity, strong nuclear force that held the nuclei
together, weak nuclear force and electromagnetic force. By the first seconds, the universe is made up of
fundamental particles and energy: quarks, electrons, photons, and neutrons.
C. FORMATION OF BASIC ELEMENTS (3 seconds)
Protons, and neutrons combine to form hydrogen nucleic. Then hydrogen began to combine in pairs to form
helium nuclei. This process is called nucleosynthesis.
D. RADIATION ERA (10,000 YEARS)
Most of energy in the universe was in the form of radiation. These include different wavelengths of light, X-
rays, radio waves and UV rays. They formed what is called the cosmic wave background radiation.
E. MATTER DOMINATION (300,000 YEARS)
Matter began to dominate and the end of radiation era at this stage, lithium atom began to formed. Electrons
joined with hydrogen and helium nuclei to make scales neutral atoms.
F. BIRTH OF THE STARS AND GALAXIES (300 MILLION YRS)
The slightly irregular areas of gas cloud, gravitational attract nearby matter and became denser. The dense
gas clouds collapsed and eventually gain enough mass to ignite producing light. The huge gas cloud can be
birthplace of dozens of stars. The group of stars became the galaxies.
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
A model is a representation of an idea, an object or even a process that is used to describe and explain
phenomena that cannot be experienced directly. Scientists use models to predict a phenomena or event, such
as the origin of the Solar System. Therefore, a model is a scientist description of an event at that time,
demonstrating how science knowledge is tentative.
There are two popular models about the Solar System: Claudius Ptolemy’s GEOMETRIC MODEL, which
states that the earth is at the center of the Solar System, and Nicholas Copernicus’ HELIOCENTRIC
MODEL’, which states that the sun is at the center of the Solar System.
In the eighteen century, the understanding of how the Solar System originated became more than just
descriptive models: It became scientific. The following scientific theories present the explanation of the
origin of the Solar System. It is important to note that these theories build up on the idea of angular
momentum is the quantity of rotation of a body, which is the product of its moment of inertia and its angular
velocity.
NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749-1827) were the first to propose the earliest
theory of how the Solar System originated. The Kant-Laplace nebular hypothesis presumes that the Solar
System began as cloud of dispersed interstellar gas called nebula. The mutual gravitational attraction
between particles caused them to start moving and colliding, and they were kept together by electrostatic
forces. The resulting nebular aggregates became larger than others, grew more rapidly, and ultimately
became the planets.
THE PLANETS
Currently, we have 8 official planets present in our solar system. They are divided into two classifications:
TERRESTRIAL PLANETS and JOVIAN PLANETS
TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
Terrestrial Planets were also known as the rocky planet. These planets are the first four planets in our solar
system inside the asteroid belt. The following are the terrestrial planets:
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
MERCURY
It is the smallest planet in our solar system and it is closest to the sun. It orbits around the Sun about 88
Earth days which is much faster than any other planet in the Solar System. It has no natural satellites.
VENUS
The second planet from the sun. It is the hottest planet because of the dense atmosphere. The thick, toxic
atmosphere consists of more than 96% carbon dioxide that traps heat causing greenhouse effect. It is the
second brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon.
EARTH
The third planet form the Sun and is the largest and densest of the terrestrial planets. It has one natural
satellite, the Moon, which is the largest satellite among the terrestrial planet in the solar system. Due to its
rotation, Earth has geoid shape. This means that the rounded shape has a slight bulge towards the equator.
MARS
Fourth planet from the Sun, next planet beyond earth. Mars has about one-third the gravity of the Earth. It is
known as the red planet due it its reddish appearance. It gets its red color from the iron on its soil. Mars has
two small moons: Phobos and Deimos.
JOVIAN PLANETS
Jovian Planets (also known as the Gaseous Planets) were the planets outside the asteroid belt. These planets
were composed mainly of gases and has metallic core. The following planets were the Jovian planets:
1. Jupiter
2. Saturn
3. Uranus
4. Neptune
JUPITER
The fifth planet from the sun. It is the biggest planet which is about two and a half times more massive than
all the other planet in the solar system. Jupiter’s strong internal heat creates semi-permanent features in its
atmosphere, such as could bands and the Great red Spot. Jupiter has a thin ring system composed mainly of
dust particles. It has 67 known satellites. The four largest were the Ganymede, Callisto, lo, and Europa that
shows similarities to the terrestrial planets.
SATURN
The sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet. It is known for its extensive ring system made
up of small ice and rock particles. Saturn is the only planet of the Solar System that is less dense than water.
It has 62 confirmed satellites composed largely of ice. Titan which is one of the Saturn’s satellites is the
second-largest moon in Solar System.
URANUS
It is the seventh planets from the sun and the lightest of the outer planets. It is tipped over on its side with an
axial tilt of 98 degrees, Uranus has 27 unknown satellites where in the largest include Titania, Oberon,
Umbriel, Ariel, and Miranda.
NEPTUNE
It is most distant planet in the solar system. It is slightly smaller than Uranus but it is more massive and
denser. Neptune has very thin collection of rings. It has 14 known satellites wherein the largest is the
Trition. It was also famous with its Dark Spot.
TRIVIA:
The 4 criteria of the IAU for a full-sized planets are
 It is an orbit around the Sun
 It is sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium (a nearly round shape).
 It has “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit.
 Why Pluto is was downgraded as a planet?
SUMMARY
 There are different theories about the origin of the universe that was believed on their own
timeliness.
 The theories that were accepted by most of the people were the Big bang theory and creationism.
 There are two popular models about the Solar System: Claudius Ptolemy’s geocentric model, which
states that the earth is at the center of the Solar System, and Nicholas Copernicus’ heliocentric
modelm which states that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System.
 The Kant-Laplace nebular hypothesis presumes that the Solar System began as cloud of dispersed
interstellar gas called nebula.
 The dense area of the nebula and the gaseous matter surrounding it ceased to rotate uniformly. Under
the influence of turbulence and tidal action, the nebula broke into whirlpools of gas within a rotating
mass called protoplanet.

You might also like