Over 4 billion years ago, our solar system began its creation. At first, the sun was just a pile of space debris, but gravity drew that debris together and the chemical reactions that occurred made the sun a star. Next, the sun partially exploded with force and forced all of the remaining debris around it away. Due to the gravity of the sun, the planets began to form in much the same way as the sun from these new clumps of space rocks and particles. The only difference between the way the sun and the planets formed is that there were no chemical reactions present that made the planets stars. These new planets began to rotate around the sun, because of gravity, and the solar system was formed.
Simon, Seymour. Our solar system . New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1992. Print.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE the differences between comets, asteroids and meteors.
Though meteors, comets, and asteroids are all similar space rocks, there are minor differences that separate them. Asteroids are metallic objects that are smaller than planets that rotate around the sun in the same way that planets do. The most famous asteroids are located in between Mars and Jupiter, and as they rotate around the sun, there is an ever-present wall there. Comets are made of ice and also rotate around the sun but in a different way. They take longer, oval-shaped rotations that intercept other planet’s orbits. When the comet approaches the sun, some of the ice begins to melt and trail behind it forming a tail. Meteors are made of iron and oxygen and are pieces of meteoroid that enter Earth’s atmosphere. If the rock reaches Earth, it is called a meteorite, though this is rare as it generally burns up upon entering the atmosphere. Meteors, comets and asteroids, though similar, are much more unique when researched.
"NASA - Index of World Book @ NASA Articles." NASA - Home. NASA, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010.
I can effectively explain the different theories of the universe. I will discuss theories starting from Ancient Greece through the theories discussed in present day. I will analyze all theories and make a judgment based on my research on which is most valid.
Creation of the Universe
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," is the first verse of the Bible. It explains the Christian belief of how the universe was created. According to many religions, there is a supreme being or collection of beings that used their/his divine powers to create the universe and everything in it. This is the most widely believed theory, as most of the world's population belongs to some religion, but there are other theories that are also accepted, many of them being scientific more than religious.
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The theory that there was a supreme being that created the universe is called Intelligent Design. The fact that there is a God is the base principle of many religions, including Christianity. In the Christian Bible, as recounted by Moses in the book of Genesis, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. On each day, God created everything in existence, finishing with humans and animals. Other religions have a similar story, though as Christianity is the most widely accepted religion, it is the most popular story. This is a religious theory, and because it has no proof or facts to back up its claim, it is generally rejected by the scientific community. Instead, the theory of the Big Bang is the most generally believed theory of the universe among scientists.
Almost 14 billion years ago, all the matter in the universe was densely compacted in clumps and the universe was much warmer, so says the Big Bang Theory. Then gradually, the clumps began to pull together due to gravity and the universe began to heat up. When some of these clumps came together, chemical reactions induced by their molecular structure created an explosion, which pushed the other matter away. All the matter in the universe flew apart and began to rebuild, forming planets, stars, and other space rocks. This theory also has data to support it. Currently, the rest of the universe is moving away from the Earth, as discovered by scientist, like it is being pushed back as an aftereffect of an explosion. Also, as science and technology are improving, we are able to scan the universe to better understand it, and the amounts of radiation have hinted at the age and formation of the universe being in step with the Big Bang theory.
Destruction of the Universe
The average human is afraid of death. There can be no other rationalization for why we would attempt to predict the end of the universe other than to assure ourselves that it will not happen in our lifetime, and if it does, so we can be prepared for it. Seeing as we have 715 days until another end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it event is supposed to happen, people have really been freaking out trying to prepare for it. But what are they preparing for?
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The most common belief and the most accepted theory is called the Big Freeze. It states that if the universe were to keep expanding at the rate that it is now, eventually the temperature would reach absolute zero, the temperature at which nothing can survive. First, the human and plants would die, and any other life out there would presumably die also. Next, the planets would freeze over and the stars would collapse. Finally, black holes would wink out of existence and the universe would end. Closely related to this is the Big Heat theory, which is the exact converse of the Big Freeze; instead of the temperature dropping, it would rise.
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Also having to do with destruction at the hands of an expanding universe is the Big Rip. If the Big Rip is correct, the universe will continue to accelerate in its expansion due to dark energy. Eventually, the expansion will have become so rapid and so spread out that atoms will split apart from each other. This would lead to everything in the universe literally being ripped apart, staring with the less dense objects and working its way up. The only way this theory works is with the supposed existence of dark energy, the substance that accelerates the universe's expansion, so if dark energy were to be just a myth, the credibility of the Big Rip would crumble. If there were to be no dark energy, a theory like the Big Crunch would be more probable.
The Big Crunch is a theory that is converse to many others. Instead of ending because of its expansion, the Big Crunch rationalizes the universe's end because of its compaction. Because everything has gravity, if the universe were to stop expanding or slow down in its expansion, the mutual gravity of everything could pull the universe together. Stars, planets and other space debris would be pulled together with great amounts of force to create a black hole that would begin to eat away at the universe. Entire galaxies would be swallowed, adding to the size of the black hole. Eventually, the entire universe would be swallowed and the only remaining matter would be densely packed into the center of the black hole.
The final theory of the ultimate destruction of the universe is less supported by fact and less about destruction.
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One of the most obscure theories is that there is a "multiverse" and that our universe is only one of the many contained there. As far as we know, the multiverse could be infinite, and never stop. If our universe was to end, the multiverse would continue to exist, and therefore life could still continue. Though this has no specifics of extirpation, it is still a universe-ending theory, but a bit more of a hopeful one.
Opinion
Personally, I find the Big Bang the easiest creation theory to believe. Unlike the Creationism theory, the Big Bang has actual evidence to support it. Though I do believe in God, I find the Big Bang more likely to have occurred. As for the end of the universe, I like the idea of the Big Crunch. To me, it seems most likely that gravity will pull us together because that is the nature of gravity. No one knows this for sure, any of this, but humans are too curious to let a mystery stay unsolved for long.
"Big Bang Theory." Big Bang Theory. AllAboutScience.Org, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2011.
"The Big Bang - NASA Science." NASA Science. NASA, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2011.
"Wikipedia." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Inc., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2011.
I can research what we know about life elsewhere in the universe, starting with an analysis of our solar system. From what you know and what you’ve researched, do you think there is life on another planet/solar system? Do you think there is intelligent life? Support your answer.
Just like being in a house that is rumored to be haunted, humans have begun to wonder if we are alone in the universe. Scientifically, it is likely that there is life on other planets besides Earth, especially if the universe is infinite like we believe it to be. Naturally, we assume this life to be intelligent, and for some reason, most likely because of Hollywood, we assume these intelligent extraterrestrial beings are hostile and wish to annihilate our very existence. But is it possible for there to be life out there that isn't intelligent, or can humans simply be the only form of life in the universe? In my opinion, there are too many planets and solar systems to not have any of them supporting life.
There are four main reasons that the earth is able to support life: atmosphere, water, climate, and sun.
The atmosphere of Earth is unique to the rest of the solar system in its ability to support life. As opposed to other planets in the solar system whose atmospheres are made up of carbon dioxide, Earth's atmosphere is predominately oxygen. Most known life forms require oxygen in some form, so the atmosphere of Earth is perfect for supporting life.
Water is one of the fundamental necessities of life. Almost every life form requires water as a nutrient to support bodily functions. Earth has an abundance of water, as 70% of the total area of the world if filled with both salt and fresh water. Water also contains oxygen, another important part of life. Scientists have yet to find water on other planets, but that doesn't mean that there isn't water -- as a gas, liquid or solid -- on different planets.
Because of the small percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the Earth is able to maintain an almost universal temperature, meaning that it doesn't spike drastically between two extremes. Mercury moves drastically between -200°C and 375°C, while Venus and Mars stay permanently hundreds of degrees above and below zero respectively. These temperatures are too severe for humans to survive in, but somehow, Earth stays at the perfect temperature to support human life.
The sun is the governing body of all the other elements of life. If the earth were mere miles away from its current spot, the sun wouldn't produce enough light or heat that reached Earth to allow life on it. Atmospheric oxygen levels are regulated by plants that create oxygen through photosynthesis, which requires light and heat generated by the sun. Finally, the sun is the main player in the water cycle, turning liquid water into vapor, and keeping the crucial cycle going. Without the sun, there wouldn't even be an Earth to have life on.
Considering all that is needed for life are these four simple elements, it is highly probable that there is some form of life out there in the universe. Personally, I am in the majority of people on Earth, the ones who believe that there other life forms in our universe. Maybe that means extraterrestrial life forms -- be they bacteria or intelligent beings -- don't exist in our solar system, our galaxy or even our universe (if you believe in the multiverse theory), but there is some form of life out there. But is there intelligent life out there?
Many Christians interpret the Bible as saying that there are no other intelligent life forms in the universe. What is intelligent life though? If you consider it the level of a dog or a dolphin, it is much more likely that there are intelligent life forms out there than if you consider building, communicating, civilized humans as intelligent life. All things considered, I believe that there are other life forms out there, intelligent life forms at that, because the probability is too high for there not to be, especially if you believe the multiverse theory.
"Aliens." Ohio State. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2011.www.physics.ohiostate.edu/~wilkins/writing/Assignment
"Bob The Alien." Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2011.
"More Intelligent Life." More Intelligent Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2011.
I can investigate the history of UFOs including claims that the military has hidden evidence about them from the public. Do you agree/disagree with the validity of these findings? Support your answer.
"Broken Credit Blog — Mortgage Foreclosure Short Sale Credit Report Loan Modification » Pay For Delete." Broken Credit Blog — Mortgage Foreclosure Short Sale Credit Report Loan Modification. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
"More stories from inside Area 51 - Boing Boing." Boing Boing. Boing Boing, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
"Roswell UFO Crash of July 1947 ." Roswell UFO Crash of July 1947 . N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
"The Roswell UFO Conspiracy." Useful Trivia. Useful Trivia, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
"UFO encounter near Ottawa." UFO Era - aliens, ufo, ET, area 51, alien abduction, flying saucer, Roswell. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
I can research black holes. What are they? How do scientists find black holes? What are some theories regarding black holes? What is the line of singularity? What are some theories of what’s at the bottom of a black hole? Which theory do you think is most probable? Why?
Black Holes on Prezi
"Black Holes." Imagine The Universe! Home Page. NASA, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
"Black Holes Key to Mapping the Evolution of the Universe." The Daily Galaxy - Great Discoveries Channel -Your Daily Dose of Awe: Science, Space, Tech. Daily Galaxy, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
"Black hole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
"High Energy Groove X-Ray Binary." Imagine The Universe! Home Page. NASA, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
"How To Destroy A Black Hole - Technology Review." Technology Review: The Authority on the Future of Technology. Technology Review, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
Kharzeev, Physicist Dmitri. "RHIC
Black Holes?." Brookhaven National Laboratory - A Passion for Discovery. RHIC, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
"Some Surprises about Big Black Holes : Starts With A Bang." ScienceBlogs. ScienceBlogs, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/01/some_surprises_about_big_black.php
I can investigate the claim that the landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin was a conspiracy created by the United States government. Support or defend the claim.
"7 Craziest Conspiracy Theories." ArtsOnEarth - Best Cool News And Pictures!. ArtsOnEarth, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2011.
"Inside, Looking Out – 40 years ago today, 3 brave souls hitched a ride to the moon…." Inside, Looking Out . Inside, Looking Out, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
"NASA Images ." NASA Images . NASA, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
"Space Shuttle Challenger disaster." 2008/9 Wikipedia Selection for schools. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
"The Moon Hoax Debate." www.braeunig.us. Braeunig, n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2011.
I can investigate dark matter and dark energy. What is it and how does it impact what we know about astronomy. What are the potential implications if we could harness and store dark matter or dark energy?
"Dark Energy, Dark Matter - NASA Science." NASA Science. NASA, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2011.
"Dark Matter - Introduction." Imagine The Universe! Home Page. NASA, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2011.
"Dark Energy and Surfing Spacetime : Discovery News." Discovery News: Earth, Space, Tech, Animals, Dinosaurs, History . Discovery, Inc., n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2011.
" Galaxies and the Universe - Dark Matter ." University of Alabama Astronomy Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2011.
"Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy: Bad TV." Bad Astronomy
Discover Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/tv/foxapollo.html>
