Astro Physics

12 Where are we in the Universe?

Hodder & Stoughton © Paul Morris 2015

 Physics for the IB MYP 4&5: by Concept 5.12

As we extend the reach

of our observations, we
better understand the
relationships that form Key concept: relationships
our models of the
Universe, and so our Related form, models,
place in the cosmos concepts: evidence
Global context: orientation in
space and time

Hodder & Stoughton © Paul Morris 2015

Physics for the IB MYP 4&5: by Concept 5.12

Factual questions
What is the scale of the observable Universe and how big are the objects in it?
What evidence have we used to elaborate our models of the Universe?
What instruments have we used to gather observational evidence?
How do stars produce energy?

Hodder & Stoughton © Paul Morris 2015

Physics for the IB MYP 4&5: by Concept 5.12

Conceptual questions
Why is the speed of light
important to our
understanding of the
Universe?
How do forces shape the
Universe?

Hodder & Stoughton © Paul Morris 2015

Physics for the IB MYP 4&5: by Concept 5.12

Debatable questions
How has knowledge of the Universe affected
our understanding of our place in it?
How important is it to know about the
Universe beyond our own planet?

Hodder & Stoughton © Paul Morris 2015

 Contents
• Review of solar system and planets.
• Sorting the solar system
• Stellar evolution
• Life cycle of stars
• Distances, Motion, and Brightness of Stars
• Luminosity and temperatures
• Colors of Stars (spectra)
• Cross-section of SUN
• Nuclear Fusion
• Newton’s law of gravitation
• Gravitational field
• Acceleration due to gravity
• Centripetal force
• Modeling the Universe
• The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe
Review of solar system and planets.

• http://solarsystem.appzend.net/
• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd6nLM2QlWw
• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDhapt7nw4A&li
st=PLXB5R79dmFB4Tpajme1u_uU2Itgv32Aw
W&index=3
 Newton’s law of gravitation

Every object in the universe attracts every other object

with a force directed along the line of centers for the
two objects that is proportional to the product of their
masses and inversely proportional to the square of the
separation between the two objects.
 Gravitational field

• The space surrounding the material body within which its

gravitational force of attraction can be experienced is called its
gravitational field.
• Earth is surrounded by gravitational field . Any body brought in this field
experiences a force of attraction towards the center of the earth.
• Why does tennis ball bounce higher on a hill
than on plains?
 Acceleration due to gravity

• Why does tennis ball bounce higher on a hill than

on plains? --- acceleration
Centripetal force
 Stellar Evolution

• Stellar evolution is the process by which a star changes

over the course of time. Depending on the mass of the
star, its lifetime can range from a few million years for
the most massive to trillions of years for the least
massive, which is considerably longer than the age of
the universe.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkktE_fs4NA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky-ywr0MTkE
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM9CQDlQI0A
 Brightness of Stars

• All that we know about stars has been deduced by

measuring the radiation they emit.
• This radiation has two important pieces of information:
intensity – related to brightness
– and wavelength – related to the colour.
• Knowing the distance to a star we can use this
information to calculate its temperature, radius, and the
amount of energy it radiates per second.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo-sKzMWYFA
•
• The apparent brightness of a star is the
brightness measured from the Earth. This
depends on how much power the star is
emitting and how far away it is.
• The unit of apparent brightness is W/m2.
© Paul Morris 2015
 Bibliography
• https://
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXB5R79dmF
B4Tpajme1u_uU2Itgv32AwW
• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWMh61yutjU