Professional Documents
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Department of Education
REGION V (BICOL)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF LEGAZPI CITY
PAG-ASA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
PAG-ASA DRIVE, RAWIS, LEGAZPI CITY
EARTH SCIENCE
ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE: THE BIG BANG THEORY
STEM: WEEK 1
Background Information for Learners
(Brief discussion of the lesson, if possible, cite examples)
The origin of the universe has always been a central concern of humanity. Cosmology is
the scientific study of the large scale properties of the universe as a whole. Georges
Lemaitre in 1920’s theorized that the universe began from a single primordial atom. This
became the best-supported theory of the universe’s origin on an event known as Big Bang.
This theory further suggest the observation that other galaxies are moving away at a great
speed in all directions, as if they had all been propelled by an ancient explosive force.
Figure 1. Image of the infant universe 13.7 billion years created from WMAP data,
Big bang Model is now the most widely accepted theory explaining the origin of the
universe. It postulates that 12 to 14 billion years ago the portion of the universe we can see
today was only a few millimeters across. In the first 10-43 seconds of its existence, the
universe was very compact , less than a million billion billionth the size of a single atom. At
such an incomprehensibly dense, energetic state, the four fundamental forces of gravity,
electromagnetism, strong nuclear forces and weak nuclear forces were forged into a single
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force. It has since then expanded from these hot dense state into a vast and much cooler
cosmos we currently inhabit.
Redshift can also be explained by Doppler Effect. As an object moves away from us,
the sound or light waves emitted by the object are stretch out, which makes them have a
lower pitch and moves them towards the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum. (See
Fig.2 below)
There are more planets than the stars in our galaxy. The current count orbiting the sun is
eight (8). The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, earth and Mars. The outer planets are
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Ever since the discovery of Pluto in 1930, kids grew up learning that the solar system
has nine planets. That all changed in the late 1990s, when astronomers started arguing
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about whether Pluto was indeed a planet. In a highly controversial decision, the International
Astronomical Union ultimately decided in 2006 to designate Pluto as a "dwarf planet,"
reducing the list of the solar system's true planets to just eight.
Astronomers, however, are still hunting for another possible planet in our solar system, a true
Earth: Planet of Life
Earth Facts:
Equatorial 12,756 km
Diameter
Polar 12,714 km
Diameter
Moons: 1
149,598,262
Orbital km (1 AU)
distance:
Figure 3. Earth, the planet of Life. Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is the largest of
the terrestrial planets. (Image source: https://space-facts.com/earth/)
The Earth was once believed to be the center of the universe. Due to the
apparent movements of the Sun and planets in relation to their viewpoint, ancient scientists
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insisted that the Earth remained static, whilst other celestial bodies travelled in circular orbits
around it. Eventually, the view that the Sun was at the center of the universe was postulated
by Copernicus, though this is also not the case.
Earth has a powerful magnetic field. This phenomenon is caused by the nickel-
iron core of the planet, coupled with its rapid rotation. This field protects the Earth from the
effects of solar wind.
There is only one natural satellite of the planet Earth. As a percentage of the size
of the body it orbits, the Moon is the largest satellite of any planet in our solar system. In real
terms, however, it is only the fifth largest natural satellite.
Earth is the only planet not named after a god. The other seven planets in our
solar system are all named after Roman gods or goddesses. Although
only Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were named during ancient times, because
they were visible to the naked eye, the Roman method of naming planets was retained after
the discovery of Uranus and Neptune.
The Earth is the densest planet in the Solar System. This varies according to the part of
the planet; for example, the metallic core is denser than the crust. The average density of
the Earth is approximately 5.52 grams per cubic centimeter
Trying to understand how this planet we call home works can seem confusing, there
are so many things going on at once! Scientists break down the way the Earth system works
to a number of subsystems, the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere (or lithosphere)
and hydrosphere
What is the most important part of our planet, the main reason Earth is
different from all the other planets in the solar system?
All the major features and systems of our home planet. It turns out that no single feature is
more significant than the others, each one plays a vital role in the function and sustainability
of Earth’s system. Because these subsystems interact with each other and the biosphere,
they work together to influence the climate, trigger geological processes, and affect life all
over the Earth.
E RE
PH
E RE OS
PH YDR
OS The biosphere consists of all H The hydrosphere is all the
BI water held on the Earth –
the living organisms on Earth.
Their habitats extend from the water molecules in the air, icebergs
and glaciers, groundwater, lakes,
upper areas of the atmosphere, to
rivers and oceans.
deep in the ground, to the bottom of
the ocean – any place that life can
exist
E
ER ERE
PH PH
5 OS O S
AT
M GE
The atmosphere is the layer The geosphere is the physical Earth
of gases that surround the Earth. In – the rock, magma. The geosphere
comparison to the size of the Earth, extends from the center of the Earth
it is a thin layer, composed (the core, mantle and crust) to the
primarily dust in the atmosphere and even
of nitrogen and oxygen with small includes the sediments found in the
amounts of carbon dioxide and oceans.
other gases.
Earth’s systems are deeply intertwined, but sometimes this connection can lead to
harmful, yet unintended, consequences. One specific example of interaction between all the
spheres is human fossil fuel consumption. Deposits of these fuels formed millions of years
ago, when plants and animal all part of the biosphere died and decayed. At that point,
remains were compressed within Earth to form coal, oil, and natural gas, thus becoming part
of the geosphere. Now, human members of the biosphere burn these materials as fuel to
release the energy they contain. The combustion byproducts, such as carbon dioxide, end
up in the atmosphere. There, they contribute to global warming, changing and stressing the
cryosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
The many interactions between Earth’s systems are complex, and they are
happening constantly, though their effects are not always obvious. There are some
extremely dramatic examples of Earth’s systems interacting, like volcanic eruptions and
tsunamis, but there are also slow, nearly undetectable changes that alter ocean chemistry,
the content of our atmosphere, and the microbial biodiversity in soil. Each part this planet,
from Earth’s inner core to the top of the atmosphere, has a role in making Earth home to
billions of lifeforms.
ROCK-FORMING MINERALS
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Figure 5. Rock-forming minerals.
(Image Source: http://www.geologypage.com/2019/07/rock-forming-minerals.html
Scientists have identified over 4,000 different minerals. A small group of these minerals
make up almost 90% of the rocks of Earth’s crust. These minerals are known as the
common rock-forming minerals.
The word "mineral" is used in many different ways. Here are some examples:
Geologist's Definition
To meet the definition of "mineral" used by most geologists, a substance must meet five
requirements:
naturally occurring
inorganic
solid
definite chemical composition
ordered internal structure
means that people did not make it. Steel is not a mineral because it is an alloy
Naturally occurring
produced by people.
means that the substance is not made by an organism. Wood and pearls are
Inorganic
made by organisms and thus are not minerals.
"Solid" means that it is not a liquid or a gas at standard temperature and
Solid
pressure. Water is not a mineral because it is a liquid
means that all occurrences of that mineral have a chemical composition that
Definite chemical varies within a specific limited range. For example: the mineral halite (known as
composition "rock salt" when it is mined) has a chemical composition of NaCl. It is made up
of an equal number of atoms of sodium and chlorine.
means that the atoms in a mineral are arranged in a systematic and repeating
Ordered internal pattern. The structure of the mineral halite is shown in the illustration on this
structure page. Halite is composed of an equal ratio of sodium and chlorine atoms
arranged in a cubic pattern
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We Use Minerals
Every Day!
Every person uses products made from minerals every day. The salt that we add to
our food is the mineral halite. Antacid tablets are made from the mineral calcite. Rubies and
sapphires are colored varieties of a mineral named corundum.
It takes many minerals to make something as simple as a wooden pencil. The "lead"
is made from graphite and clay minerals, the brass band is made of copper and zinc, and
the paint that colors it contains pigments and fillers made from a variety of minerals.
Mineralogists are scientists who study minerals. One of the things mineralogists
must do is identify and categorize minerals. While a mineralogist might use a high-powered
microscope to identify some minerals, most are recognizable using physical properties.
Luster describes the reflection of light off a mineral’s surface. Mineralogists have
special terms to describe luster. One simple way to classify luster is based on whether the
mineral is metallic or non-metallic. Minerals that are opaque and shiny, such as pyrite, have
a metallic luster. Minerals such as quartz have a non-metallic luster.
Streak is the color of a mineral’s powder. Streak is a more reliable property than
color because streak does not vary. Minerals that are the same color may have a different
colored streak. To check streak, scrape the mineral across an unglazed porcelain plate
Hardness is the strength with which a mineral resists its surface being scraped or
punctured. In working with hand samples without specialized tools, mineral hardness is
specified by the Mohs hardness scale. The Mohs hardness scale is based 10 reference
minerals, from talc the softest (Mohs hardness of 1), to diamond the hardest (Mohs
hardness of 10). It is a relative, or nonlinear, scale. A hardness of 2.5 simply means that the
mineral is harder than gypsum (Mohs hardness of 2) and softer than calcite (Mohs hardness
of 3). To compare the hardness of two minerals see which mineral scratches the surface of
the other.
Cleavage describes how a mineral breaks into flat surfaces (usually one, two, three
or four surfaces). Cleavage is determined by the crystal structure of the mineral. Cubic :
When a mineral breaks in three directions and the cleavage planes form right angles (90
degrees to each other).Octahedral: When a mineral breaks in the form of a diamond,
resulting in 8 nearly equal faces. Pinacoidal: When a mineral breaks in one direction,
leaving a single flat surface (cleavage plane).
Fracture describes how a mineral breaks into forms or shapes other than flat
surfaces. Common Fracture Descriptions are: Conchoidal: describes a curved, nearly
rounded, smooth fracture that looks like the inside of a shell. This is seen best in the igneous
rock, obsidian, but also in assize pieces of the mineral quartz. Fibrous: describes minerals
(like chrysotile asbestos) that break into fibers. Splintery: describes minerals that break into
stiff, sharp, needle-like pieces. Hackly: describes fractures that have rough edges. Uneven
or irregular: describes minerals that break into rough, uneven surfaces.
Sometimes one person might identify a fracture as hackly and another would
describe the same specimen as irregular because they are fairly close to each other in
appearance. With more experience, a mineralogist can easily tell the difference between
these two fractures.
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Learning Competency with Code:
Recognize the uniqueness of Earth , being the only planet in the solar system with
properties necessary to support life.
Recognize the uniqueness of earth, being the only planet in the solar system with properties
necessary to support life.
Explain that the earth consist of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow.
Exercises/Activities:
Part I. Identification
1. What is the most widely accepted theory explaining the origin of the universe?
_____________________________________________________________
3. In what year did Edwin Powell Hubble reported the redshift phenomenon?
_____________________________________________________________
1-4 Give the four fundamental forces of gravity created after the first 10-43 seconds of
universe?
_____________________________________________________________
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1. Why does the origin of the universe considered to be one of the central concern of
humanity?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
2. Do you think expansion of the universe will never stop? Explain your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
4. What is the most important subsystem of the Earth vital in sustaining and supporting life?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
5. In your own words, describe how the 4 subsystem of the earth interact from one another?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
7. What is the unique features and characteristic of planet Earth among other planets in the
solar system?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________
8. Earth is the only planet in the Solar System that can support life. Cite 3 ways on how you
can help conserve our planet?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
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9. What are minerals?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
10. What are the requirements needed in order for a substance to be considered a mineral?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
Reflection:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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References:
https://www.space.com/13352-universe-history-future-cosmos-special-report.html
https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/
https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/bb_concepts.html
https://www.britannica.com/science/redshift
https://lco.global/spacebook/light/redshift/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/universe/origins-of-the-universe/
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/07/14/ask-ethan-how-large-is-the-entire-
unobservable-universe
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/The_History_of_the_Universe.jp
g/1024px-The_History_of_the_Universe.jpg
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/60counting/universe.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/earths-systems/
https://socratic.org/questions/what-are-the-earth-s-4-subsystems-and-their-definition
https://education.seattlepi.com/earths-four-subsystems-work-together-4634.html
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/720-earth-system
https://geology.com/minerals/rock-forming-minerals/
https://www.google.com/search?q=writing%20pad%20clipart&tbm=isch&tbs=sur%3Afm&hl=
en&sa=X&ved=0CAMQpwVqFwoTCLirtri3lOsCFQAAAAAdAAAABAC&biw=1425&bih=821#i
mgrc=iXi1gw_QS3t5UM
https://geology.com/minerals/what-is-a-mineral.shtml
https://www.britannica.com/science/mineral-chemical-compound
https://www.slideshare.net/JeromeJerome1/the-different-common-minerals-and-their-uses
https://www.google.com/search?q=rock+forming+minerals&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&v
ed=2ahUKEwjhwbOywJTrAhUwCqYKHdefD_AQ_AUoAXoECA8QAw&biw=718&bih=772#i
mgrc=rm2UOaUe5FV6HM
http://www.geologypage.com/2019/07/rock-forming-minerals.html
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/geo/chapter/reading-physical- characteristics-of-
minerals/
https://slideplayer.com/slide/1568510/
https://fac.ksu.edu.sa/sites/default/files/geo_221-unit-2_0.pdf
https://www.slideshare.net/StefanJadeNavarro/chemical-properties-of-minerals
Prepared by:
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