Earth Science 1.1: Universe and Solar System

Origin of the Universe

• Big Bang Theory: Proposed by Georges Lemaitre. The universe started from a singularity and is continuously expanding. Initially composed solely of energy, it later produced matter and elements.
• Energy Production: Heavier elements like copper, gold, and uranium were synthesized through the energy generated by the continuous creation and bursting of stars.

Modern Theories

• Plank Era: The universe's earliest stage post-Big Bang, where four fundamental forces were unified into a "super force."
  • Four Fundamental Forces:
    • Gravity
    • Nuclear Weak Force
    • Nuclear Strong Force
    • Electromagnetic Force
• Grand Unified Theory (GUT): Focuses on the separation of the "super force" into gravity and the three other forces during the universe's cooling phase.
• Oscillating Universe Theory: A modification of the Big Bang, proposed by Albert Einstein. It suggests that the universe expands, then reverses to undergo a Big Crunch, repeating indefinitely.
• Steady State Theory: Proposed by Fred Hoyle, Thomas Gold, and Hermann Bondi. Argues that the universe expands while maintaining a constant average density, continually creating matter.
• Inflationary Universe Theory: Introduced by Alan Guth, explaining a rapid exponential expansion of the universe in its early stages from a vacuum-like state.

Traditional Theories

• Genesis (Biblical): Describes the universe's creation in six days by God.
• Rigveda (Hinduism): Introduces the concept of the Cosmic Egg or Brahmanda, where Brahman (the creator god) breaks the egg to create the universe.
• Primordial Universe (Greek): Philosopher Anaxagoras theorized that the cosmos began as a chaotic mixture of fundamental elements called "seeds" or "homoiomeries," infinitely divisible and existing in fragments.

Particle Era

• During this era, the four fundamental forces became distinct and ordinary particles began to form.
• As the universe cooled, quarks combined in groups of three to create protons and neutrons, marking a significant transitional phase in cosmic evolution.