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?