Big Bang Theory

- 14 billion years ago

- Most popular and acclaimed theory
- Due to random fluctuations, tiny, dense, and compact point exploded
Singularity
- Matter and energy were compressed and condensed into a tiny, dense mass
Subatomic Particles
- After the universe cooled, subatomic particles came into existence
- These subatomic particles formed hydrogen and helium
Evidences for Big Bang Theory
- Cosmic Background Inflation
• Longwave background radiation was discovered
• This radiation has no exact source (no star or galaxy origin)
• This radiation is omnidirectional
- Doppler Effect/Red Shift
• Elements give off electromagnetic radiation
• The color spectrum is ROYGBIV
• Element has a specific spectrum; this is how scientists determine the element makeup of stars
• Doppler Effect is due to the motion of radiation-producing objects
• When the wavelength is shifting to red, it is moving away from the observer
• When the wavelength is shifting to blue, it is moving towards the observer
Galaxies
- Collection of stars and various objects held by gravity
- Can be classified into: elliptical, irregular, and spiral
Steady State Model
- States that the universe has no end nor beginning
- States that the universe is always present
- States that the universe will expand but will maintain a constant average density
Oscillating Universe Theory
- Contributed by Richard Tolman
- States that the universe will enter a continuous Big Bang-Big Crunch cycle that will never end
Multiverse Theory
- Contributed by Andrei Linde, Paul Steinhardt, Andreas Albrecht, and Alan Guth
- States that there are multiple versions of our universe
Solar System
- Contains planets, satellites, and various comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.
Asteroid
- Celestial body that is composed of rock or metal that orbits the sun
Comet
- Celestial body that is composed of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the sun
Meteoroid
- The term used to describe any outer space objects that enters Earth’s atmosphere
Meteorites
- The remnants of surviving meteors that didn’t burn in contact to the land or evaporated in the atmosphere
Theory of Vortex
- Contributed by Rene Descartes
- Stated that the space is filled with objects with mass in various forms
Nebular Hypothesis
- States that spinning cloud of dust made of mostly light elements, called a nebula, flattened into a protoplanetary disk,
and became a solar system consisting of a star with orbiting planets
Manuel Kant
- Assumes that the mutual gravitational attractions of the particles caused them to collide
Leclerc-Buffon Theory
- States that a comet collided with the sun, sending off matter that became planets
Chemical Composition Model
- The most common way of determining the chemical composition of celestial bodies
Solar Nebular Disk Model
- States that our solar system formed around 4.568 billion years ago
- States that our star formed when the molecular cloud collapsed under gravity
Formation of Terrestrial Planets
- Formed closer to the sun by accretion
Formation of Ice and Gas Planets
- Formed away from the sun by accretion and gas
Earth
- The only celestial body to host life
- Formed 4.5 billion years ago
- Moon is the only natural satellite
- Orbits the sun 365.26 days, also called Earth Year
Spheres
- Earth has four spheres; lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (life)
• System – term used to describe a complex whole where its smaller parts are working in coordination
- Some studies also use cryosphere (ice and snow) and anthroposphere (man-made objects and processes)
• Cycle – term used to describe a never-ending occurrence, event, or motion
Hydrosphere
- Includes surface water, sub-surface water, water vapors, ocean, sea, lakes, lagoons, rivers, ponds
- A fluid sphere
- Contains liquid and gas components
- Also includes cryosphere (ice and snow)
- Covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface

Water Cycle
 - Transpiration – leaving of plant’s water from its leaves and roots
- Evaporation – changing of water from liquid to gas
- Condensation – water vapors condense to form rain clouds
- Precipitation – raining
- Run-off – returning of rain to bodies of water after reaching the land

Geosphere

- Includes the crust and core of the Earth

- Includes natural and lifeless surface components of Earth
- Includes rocks, sand particles, mountain, minerals, lava, and molten magma
- Can take up to thousands of years for the cycle to complete
- Is most affected by other factors such as water, temperature, and wind

Biosphere

- Includes all living components of Earth

- Includes humans, plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, protists, all microscopic organisms, and organic matter that has not
yet decomposes
- Hugely dependent on other spheres

Atmosphere

- A mixture of gases that surrounds the planet that is trapped by gravity

• Troposphere – “Tropos – change” Most types of clouds are found in the troposphere, and almost all weather
occurs within this layer
• Stratosphere – “Strat – layer” Houses the ozone layer that helps protect us from ultraviolet radiation (UV)
from the sun
• Mesosphere – “Meso – middle” Burns up meteors
• Thermosphere – “Thermo – heat” Contains low orbiting satellites
• Ionosphere – “
• Exosphere – “Exo – outside” This layer separates the rest of the atmosphere from outer space