The Rest of the Universe

Key Issues

Titles

Chapters

• A galaxy is a vast number of star systems held by gravitational forces
• A star goes through a life cycle (limited to the life cycle of stars of similar size to the Sun and stars much larger than the Sun)
• consider the possibilities and limitations of space exploration in terms of distances and speed of travel. Recall, evaluate and discuss evidence for life and planets outside our solar system
• describe how stars are formed
• describe the Big Bang and steady state model for the formation of the universe
• describe the main differences between Pluto and the other planets and relate this to how scientific opinion has changed
• Differences between the orbits of a planet, a moon, a comet and satellites of the Earth
• evaluate the scientific and economic issues of space travel
• Evidence for the 'Big Bang' theory
• Evidence to support the 'Big Bang' theory
• explain how the composition of the atmosphere is essential in maintaining conditions for life (the natural greenhouse effect, oxygen for aerobic respiration)
• Fusion Processes in Stars
• Fusion processes in stars produce all naturally occurring elements. These elements may be distributed throughout the Universe by the explosion of a star (supernova) at the end of its life
• Gravitational field strength and gravitational forces
• Gravitational Forces
• Gravitational forces balance radiation pressure to make a star stable
• If a wave source is moving relative to an observer there will be a change in the observed wavelength and frequency
• know that the universe is still expanding
• know that the universe was created from the 'big bang'
• Life Cycle of a Star
• Movement of planets, moons, comets and satellites are determined by gravitational forces
• Observations are made with telescopes that may detect visible light or other electromagnetic radiations such as radio waves or X-rays
• Observations of the solar system and the galaxies in the universe can be carried out on the Earth or from space
• Observed Wavelength and Frequency
• Our Sun is one of the many billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy
• recall that stars are powered by nuclear fusion processes
• recall that the Universe is made up of innumerable galaxies
• REFRACTION OF PLANE WAVES
• STARS
• Stars form when enough dust and gas from space is pulled together by gravitational attraction. Smaller masses may also form and be attracted by a larger mass to become planets
• state how the Earth's atmosphere is changing as a result of human activities
• state that astronomers use different types of telescopes to gather information on the moon, planets and stars
• state the main gases in the atmosphere (approximate percentages of nitrogen and oxygen, carbon dioxide)
• Telescopes
• The 'Big Bang' theory of the Universe
• The evolution of stars
• The life span of stars
• The Milky Way is the galaxy which contains our solar systems
• The Moon, Earth and planets
• The orbits of moons, planets, comets and artificial satellites
• The planets - their masses and orbits
• The Red-Shift and the Big Bang Theory
• The Solar System
• The Sun
• The theory of the origin of the Universe
• The Universe
• The Universe is made up of billions of galaxies
• ULTRASONIC WAVES
• understand that a light-year is a unit of distance and have some appreciation of how large the universe must be
• understand the differences between stars, planets and satellites in terms of radiation and reflection of light
• understand the relationship between galaxies, stars and the solar system