ST.

MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARINDUQUE

Boac, Marinduque

Integrated Basic Education Department

SY 2023 – 2024

Subject: Earth Science Quarter: First Handout #: 1

Level: Grade 11 – STEM Duration: 1 week Day: 1 to 2
Topic: The Universe and the Solar System

I. Objectives:

The students will be able to…

 Observe properties of the Solar System as a whole.
 Understand how the Universe was formed.
 Understand how the Solar System was formed.
 Understand how planets was formed.
 Learn how astronomer learn about other planetary systems.
Essential Questions:
 What is the most accepted theory for the origin and evolution of the Universe?
 How did the solar system form?
 How do planets form?
 What do astronomers know about other planetary systems?

II. Discussion

The Universe

The universe as we currently know it comprises all space and time, and all matter and
energy in it. It is made of 4.6% baryonic matter (“ordinary” matter consisting of protons,
electrons, and neutrons: atoms, planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other bodies), 24%
cold dark matter (matter that has gravity but does not emit light), and 71.4% dark energy (a
source of anti-gravity). Hydrogen, helium, and lithium are the three most abundant elements.

Stars - the building block of galaxies-are born out of clouds of gas and dust in galaxies.
Instabilities within the clouds eventually results into gravitational collapse, rotation, heating up,
and transformation into a protostar (the hot core of a future star as thermonuclear reactions
set in).
Stellar interiors are like furnaces where elements are synthesized or combined/fused
together. Most stars such as the Sun belong to the so-called “main sequence stars.” In the
MR. JOHN REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 – W1 – HO1 Page 1 of 7
cores of such stars, hydrogen atoms are fused through thermonuclear reactions to make
helium atoms. Massive main sequence stars burn up their hydrogen faster than smaller stars.
Stars like our Sun burn up hydrogen in about 10 billion years.

Theories about the Origin of the Universe

A. Creation Myths

 According to Genesis, one of the

books of the Hebrew Bible and
Christian Old Testament, the
creation of the entire cosmos
(universe) took place in six days.
The biblical creation story tells that
God created the universe.

 Ancient Egyptians believed in many Gods and myths which narrate that the world arose
from an infinite sea at the first rising of the sun.

 The Kuba people of Central Africa tell the story of a creator god Mbombo (or Bumba) who,
alone in a dark and water-covered Earth, felt an intense stomach pain and then vomited
the stars, sun, and moon.

 In India, there is the narrative that Gods sacrificed Purusha, the primal man whose head,
feet, eyes, and mind became the sky, earth, sun, and moon respectively.

 The monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam claim that a supreme being
created the universe, including man and other living organisms.

B. Scientific Theories

 Big Bang Theory

It was propsed by Alexander Friedmann and

Georges LamaÎtre in 1920. According to the theory,
around 13.7 billion years ago, there was nothing and
nowhere. Then suddenly, due to random fluctuation
in an empty void, there was great explosion or
expansion. The explosion sent space, time, matter,
and energy in all directions. The event is called big
bang.

It's also thought that the extremely close quarters allowed the universe's very first
particles to mix, mingle, and settle into roughly the same temperature. Then, in an
unimaginably small fraction of a second, all that matter and energy expanded outward more
or less evenly, with tiny variations provided by fluctuations on the quantum scale. That model
of breakneck expansion, called inflation, may explain why the universe has such an even
temperature and distribution of matter. After inflation, the universe continued to expand but at
a much slower rate. It's still unclear what exactly powered inflation.
MR. JOHN REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 – W1 – HO1 Page 2 of 7
 Oscillating Universe Theory

The oscillating universe theory is a

cosmological theory model that
combines the Big Bang and the Big
Crunch as part of a cyclical event.
This theory speaks of a universe that
has no end and has different epochs
during its endless process, an epoch
that is equal to a complete oscillation
starting from a Big Bang event and going through a series of different phases, after which the
inflationary phase appears with a high rate of expansion. After this process, the universe
reaches a stage in which the potential energy of the scalar field begins to dominate giving a
period of accelerated expansion which indicates the current age of the universe. During this
period of accelerated expansion, black holes, matter, radiation, waste, neutron stars, and
neutrinos will be diluted, and the universe will be empty, smooth and flat.

In other words, our universe can be the first of a possible series of universe or it can be
the nth universe in the series.

 Steady State Theory

The Steady-State model states that the density of

matter in the expanding universe remains unchanged
over time because of the continuous creation of
matter. In other words, the observable Universe
essentially remains the same regardless of time or
place. This places it in sharp contrast to the theory
that the majority of matter was created in a single
event (the Big Bang) and has been expanding ever
since.

Additional Info Links:

The Big bang timeline. https://study.com/academy/lesson/big-bang-theory-lesson-

for-kids-definition-facts-timeline.html

The Solar System

MR. JOHN REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 – W1 – HO1 Page 3 of 7

 The solar system comprises the Sun, eight planets, dwarf planets such as Pluto,
satellites, asteroids, comets, other minor bodies such as those in the Kuiper belt and
interplanetary dust. The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter. Meteoroids are smaller
asteroids. They are thought of as remnants of a “failed planet”—one that did not form due to
disturbance from Jupiter’s gravity. The Kuiper belt lies beyond Neptune (30 to 50 AU, 1 AU =
Sun-Earth distance = 150 million km) and comprise numerous rocky or icy bodies a few
meters to hundreds of kilometers in size. The Oort cloud marks the outer boundary of the
solar system and is composed mostly of icy objects.

The solar system is located in the Milky Way galaxy, a huge disc- and spiral-shaped
aggregation of about at least 100 billion stars and other bodies. Its spiral arms rotate around a
globular cluster or bulge of many, many stars, at the center of which lies a supermassive
blackhole. This galaxy is about 100 million light years across (1 light year = 9.4607 × 1012
km).

The solar system revolves around the galactic center once in about 240 million years.
The Milky Way is part of the so-called Local Group of galaxies, which in turn is part of the
Virgo super-cluster of galaxies. Based on the assumption that they are remnants of the
materials from which they were formed, radioactive dating of meteorites, suggests that the
Earth and solar system are 4.6 billion years old on the assumption that they are remnants of
the materials from which they were formed.

Theories about the origin of The Solar System

 Descartes’ Vortex Theory

It was proposed by French mathematician and

physicist, Rene Descartes. According to him, the solar
system was formed into bodies with nearly circular orbits
because of the whirlpool-like motion in the pre-solar
materials. He explained the orbits of the planets are the
primary whirlpool motion and the satellites the secondary
whirlpool motion.

 Buffon’s Collision Theory

It was proposed by French naturalist George-Louis

Leclerc, Comte de Buffon proposed that the planets were
formed by the collision of the sun with a giant comet. The
resulting debris formed into planets that rotate in the
same direction as they revolved around the sun.

 Kant-Laplace Nebular Theory

MR. JOHN REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 – W1 – HO1 Page 4 of 7

 Immanuel Kant and Pierre Simon Laplace proposed the nebular theory which suggested
that a great cloud of gas and dust, called nebula, began to collapse because of gravitational
pull. As the cloud contracted, it spun more rapidly.

 Jeans-Jeffrey’s Tidal Theory

It was proposed by Sir James Hopwood Jeans and Harold Jeffreys. The tidal theory
proposed that the planets were formed from the substance that was torn out of the sun. As
the speeding massive star passed near the sun, it pulled off material due to gravitational
attraction. The torn-off material subsequently condensed to form the planets.

Solar nebular Theory

According to this theory, the solar system was

formed as a result of the condensation of hydrogen gas
dust referred to as interstellar gas and dust cloud.
Something must have happened to trigger the
condensation of the ga and dust cloud. An explosion of
a star (supernova) might have caused the dust and gas
cloud to collapse, forming the sun and planets.

a. Printed books
 Petersen J.F., Gablar R.E., Earth and Life Science ©2016 Rex Bookstore, Inc. pp. 2-17.
 Vengco, L.G., Religioso T.F, earth and Life Science Phoenix Pub. House pp. 2-22
 Duka, I.M., Crisologo, D.T., Teaching guide for Senior High School: Earth and Life
Science pp. 1-24

b. Online Resources
 Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Theory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtOEnTiAZlU
 The Big bang timeline. https://study.com/academy/lesson/big-bang-theory-lesson-for-kids-
definition-facts-timeline.html

Activity
The Origin of the Universe and Solar System

Name:__________________________ Date: ___________________

Grade and Section:____________________________ Teacher: _________________

MR. JOHNActivity
REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 –
1: Geocentric vs. Heliocentric W1 – HO1
Theory Page 5 of 7
Directions: Copy and browse the link to answer the table below. Model of the universe:
Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Theory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtOEnTiAZlU

After viewing the video clip, answer the table below differentiating geocentric and heliocentric
theory of the universe.

Categories Geocentric theory Heliocentric theory

Illustration

Proponent

Theory

Post-Evaluation/Assessment

Directions: Identify the word that best describe the statement below. Write your answer on
the space provided before each number.
MR. JOHN REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 – W1 – HO1 Page 6 of 7
_________1. The universe is unchanging –
_________2. The size of the universe drastically increased. –
_________3. Existence of electromagnetic force and gravity. –
_________4. In the beginning, God created Heaven and Earth. –
_________5. Protons and neutrons combine to form hydrogen nuclei. –
_________6. There is singularity and super gravity, followed by explosion. –
_________7. Planets are formed by the collision of the sun and a giant planet. –
_________8. Planets are formed from a substance that was torn from the sun.
_________9. A great cloud of gas and dust begins to collapse because of gravitational pull.
_________10. Cloud continued to shrink; became a rotating disk; gravitational energy;
nuclear
reaction began and center glowed.

II. Broadening of Concept / Integration

Directions: Make a brief report on the following topic / questions. 10 pts each.

1. What is the fate of the universe? Will the universe continue to expand or will it eventually
contract because of gravity?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________ .

2. Is the Solar System unique or rare? What is the possibility of finding a similar system within
the Milky Way Galaxy? What about an Earth like planet?
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________ .

3. How will you be a good steward of God’s gift which is our planet?
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________ .

4. Suppose you meet an extraterrestrial being who asks you to describe the solar system,
what significant events would you share with your new found friend?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________ .

MR. JOHN REY L. LAWIG ELS – Q1 – W1 – HO1 Page 7 of 7