P2h Big Bang

P2h The Big Bang

Our Universe

What it is like, how it started, how it evolved to its current state, and

how it will end

Today we will talk about:

First, let’s look at some of the objects we might find if we explored our Universe

Where do we live?

Where is the Earth?

The Solar System

Q: What is a STAR?

Our Sun is a star!

What is this?

What is it made of?

MANY STARS

MANY STARS

SOME SUN-LIKE

You are here!

Our Galaxy from the Earth

Galaxies: Hubble Space telescope image

‘Zoom out’ - galaxies form filaments and voids

IN THE BEGINNING…….

EVERYTHING!

EVERYTHING!

EVERYTHING!

ENERGY INCREASING, BECOMING LIKE A BOMB…….

STARTS EXPANDING…..

Tick tick tick……

BOOM!

COSMIC ‘SOUP’

PROTONNEUTRON

ELECTRON

COSMIC ‘SOUP’

• Universe much cooler, atoms start to form…..

• Hydrogen, Helium, normal ‘stuff’

300,000 Years Later…..

Universe is now a GAS

Universe is now a GAS

HYDROGEN

HELIUM

GRAVITY!

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Gravitational Collapse

Gravitational Collapse

If we could view the Universe from outside, if would look like this:

But we are inside one of these galaxies, so all we see are the nearby stars. We can see other galaxies if we use a telescope

The Gemini Telescope

What have we learnt?

• The Universe started with a BIG BANG

• Gradually the particles were drawn together under GRAVITY to form STARS and GALAXIES

• Many stars have planets around them

• The fate of the Universe is uncertain…

Big Bang - Tasks

Discuss & do in Pairs

1. Design a time-line of events since the Big Bang

2. What evidence is there to support the Big Bang theory?

3. Decide on 2 non-fact-based questions to ask the rest of the class on this topic

Research and Discussion Points

Research and Discussion Points

• What was there before the Big Bang?

• What caused the Big Bang?

• How big is the Universe?

• Will the Universe keep expanding?

THE END?