THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE SOLAR
SYSTEM
Lesson 1.1:
Big Bang Theory
Big Bang Theory
- a cosmological model explaining how the universe
began; universe started its expansion about 13.8
billion years ago
Overview of the Big Bang Theory
• Bread-raisin Model
- universe: bread; galaxies: raisins
- raisin does not expand; it only moves apart as the
dough rises
• Singularity
- an area predicted to be in the core of a black hole
with very high temperature and density
- constantly expands and cools
- rate of expansion is almost equal to the rate of
cooling
• Nucleosynthesis
- formation of elements, such as hydrogen and helium
→ led to the formation of the stars and the
galaxies; stars led to the formation of other
cosmic bodies such as planets, comets, and
asteroids
Proponents of the Big Bang Theory
• Georges Henri Joseph Edouard Lemaître
- Belgian priest; expanding universe
- first proponent
- Cosmic Egg: an explosive act of primeval atom
- was not recognized by most cosmologists since it
was not supported by empirical evidence at that
time
• Edwin Powell Hubble
- an American astronomer
- Hubble’s law: provided evidence that the universe
was not static but expanding
- 1923: spotted what he thought as a flaring nova star
in the M31 nebula or the Andromeda constellation
(Andromeda galaxy, the nearest galaxy in the Milky
Way)
UNIT 1
the amount of redshift is proportional
to the distance of the galaxy; i.e.
nearby galaxies have smaller redshifts
than distant galaxies
- ultimately supported
Lemaître’s proposal of the expanding universe
• Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson
- American astronomers, who studies the cosmic
radiation in 1964
- cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation:
microwaves with wavelengths of about 7
centimeters
→ thermal energy released when the ionized
gases became neutral particles as the early
universe cooled down
→ leftover
Drawbacks of the Big Bang Theory
- failed to explain how the universe was created,
failed to explain how the galaxies formed
- It just explains how it evolve and not where it
originated.
REMEMBER
As universe expands, its density increases.
- no new matter is added as it expands
- Density = mass/volume
→ increasing volume at constant mass yields
decreased density
Lesson 1.2:
Steady State and Oscillating Universe Theory
Steady State Theory
- universe has no beginning and no end
Overview of the Steady State Theory
Universe has always been here and will always be
present; the universe continuously expands while
simultaneously creating matter.
- density remains constant
- rate of the death of stars = to the rate of birth of
stars; universe is not evolving over time
 THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE SOLAR
SYSTEM
Proponents of the Steady State Theory
• Hermann Bondi, Thomas Gold, and Fred Hoyle
- physicists from Cambridge
- watched the horror movie “Dead of Night”
→ universe was dynamic but unchanging
Drawbacks of the Steady State Theory
It is not parallel with the law of conservation of
energy and mass.
The Oscillating Universe Theory
- universe is expanding and will contract once all the
energy after the big bang has been used up
- pulsating theory
Overview of the Oscillating Universe Theory
combination of the big bang and the big crunch
• Big Crunch
- universe expands and eventually reverses, then
collapses causing the formation of a singularity or
the occurrence of another big bang
• Big Bounce
- once the universe reverses and attains the point of
singularity, another universe will be born
Proponent of Oscillating Universe Theory
• Richard Tolman
- an American mathematical physicist and physical
chemist
- made essential contributions on theoretical
cosmology
- theorized that the universe may be first in the cycle,
or it could be a result of a previous big bounce event
- “Relativity, Thermodynamics and Cosmology”:
universe has zero energy because the positive mass
energy and negative gravitational energy cancel each
other
Drawbacks of Oscillating Universe Theory
Scientists discovered many loopholes; universe
would collapse on its own after it reached its full expansion:
violate some current laws of physics, such as the postulated
existence of dark energy
UNIT 1
Lesson 1.3:
Nebular Theory
Nebular Theory
- “nebula” cloud
- stars originate from interstellar gas and dust
- solar system was formed about 4.6 billion years ago
- describes Earth starting from molten mass
Description of the Nebular Theory
Three Major Steps on How the Solar System was Formed:
cloud collapse, formation of protoplanetary disk, and
growth of planets
Cloud Collapse
The collapsed cloud of interstellar gas and dust
results to a smaller radius which means it will spin faster.
This resulted to flattened disk of cloud with central bulge.
Formation of Protoplanetary Disk
Metals and silicates could exist near the sun because
these compounds have higher boiling points.
• Terrestrial planets:
- Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
- could not grow in huge diameter because of the
limited reserve of metallic elements in the solar
nebula
• Jovian planets
- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
- huge planets made up of gases without land surfaces
- farther from the sun; forming these massive, but
low-density planets
Growth of Planets
Dust and grains surrounding the sun eventually
formed clumps; clumps then accreted forming planetesimals
• Planetesimal
- a small celestial body that once collide together, it
tends to fused to form the planets of the solar
system.
Proponents of the Nebular Theory
• Emmanuel Swedenborg: first proponent
• Immanuel Kant: developed the theory
 THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE SOLAR
SYSTEM UNIT 1

• Pierre-Simon Laplace: independently developed and
proposed a similar model
Drawbacks of the Nebular Theory
does not follow the law of angular momentum
Unlike the planetesimal theory, the tidal theory
proposes that the hot gas from the passing star condensed
into planets instead of condensing into planetesimals
Proponents of the Tidal Theory

REMEMBER • James Jean: English physicist and astronomer

• Harold Jeffreys: an English mathematician and
Denser materials sink (iron, nickel), less dense astronomer
materials float to the atmosphere.
Drawbacks of the Tidal Theory
Lesson 1.4:
Encounter Theory One problem of the tidal theory is that the hot
material from either star cannot contract. Thus, planets will
Encounter Theory not form.
- planets were formed from the material ejected from
the sun during an encounter with another celestial
object
- has 2 (two) several forms including:
planetesimal theory
tidal theory

The Planetesimal Theory

A passing star termed as intruding star nearly
collided with the protosun.
- describes Earth starting from a solid mass smaller
than its present size
The oceans and the atmosphere were formed on Earth
through volcanic activities.

Proponents of the Planetesimal Theory

• Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin: an American geologist
• Forest Ray Moulton: an American astronomer

Drawbacks of the Planetesimal Theory

This theory is no longer accepted today due to the
fact that hot material from the sun expands and dissipates
rather than contract.

The Tidal Theory

- solar system formed as a result of a near collision

between a passing star and the sun

REMEMBER