Universe Formation and Stellar Evolution

Astronomy

• Formation of the Universe (Big Bang):

  • Currently accepted theory?
  • Currently accepted age of the Universe?
  • Three pieces of evidence supporting the theory of formation?

• Stellar Evolution:

  • Factors determining a star's evolutionary path?
  • Initial force pulling together gas and dust in a stellar nebula?
  • Process in a star's core needed for protostar to become a star and emit energy?
  • Stage where most stars spend their life?
  • Will our Sun become a supernova?
  • Stars that go through supernovae?
  • Compare and contrast different stars and groups using ESRT page 15 (Characteristics of Stars Chart). This page also provides stages of stellar evolution: Early, Intermediate, and Late.

• Terrestrial vs. Jovian Planets:

  • Which planets are terrestrial and which are Jovian?
  • Compare and contrast using ESRT page 15 (Solar System Data Chart).

• Kepler's Laws:

  • Kepler's First Law: Shape of planetary orbits; location of foci.
  • Kepler's Second Law: Difference between perihelion and aphelion, orbital velocity and gravitational attraction at each.

• Phases of the Moon:

  • Number of days for the lunar cycle of phases.
  • Determining the next phase date given a current phase date.
  • Drawing and identifying different phases based on Moon's position.
  • Reason why the same side of the Moon always faces Earth.
  • Information from ESRT page 15 to support lunar phases.

• Lunar vs. Solar Eclipses:

  • Alignments of Earth, Moon, and Sun for lunar and solar eclipses.
  • Moon phase during each eclipse type.
  • Reason why eclipses don't occur every time the related phases occur.

• Spring vs. Neap Tides:

  • Alignment of Earth, Moon, and Sun for Spring Tides.
  • Moon phases during Spring Tides.
  • Alignment of Earth, Moon, and Sun for Neap Tides.
  • Moon phases during Neap Tides.

• Earth's Rotation and Revolution:

  • Instrument providing evidence of Earth's rotation?
  • Direction of wind and ocean current deflection in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,.
  • Earth's rate of movement around the Sun, the stars in our sky.

Energy

• Conduction:
  • Where is it best in?
  • How does heat travel by conduction?
• Convection:
  • Where is it best in?
  • How does heat travel by convection?
• Radiation:
  • What can the heat transfer travel through?
  • Color and texture that absorb radiation the best and reflect it the best?
  • Compare different types of radiation using the ESRT page 14.
• Phase Changes:
  • Indicate the phase change for a transition (solid/liquid/gas)
  • Use ESRT page 1 identify the phase changes that absorb or release energy. How much energy each phase changes absorb or release.

Climate

• Climate Factors:
  • Effect of latitude on temperature?
  • Effect of elevation on temperature?
  • How do mountain barriers and prevailing winds affect the difference in temperature between windward and leeward sides?

Meteorology

• Station Models:
  • Using ESRT page 13 to code and decode station models.
• Isolines:
  • Drawing isotherms and isobars.
• High vs. Low Pressure:
  • Defining terms associated with high-pressure and low-pressure systems(divergent, clockwise, inward, clear/dry..).
• Moisture/Humidity:
  • Use ESRT page 12 in various ways to find different aspects of weather variables.
  • Describe using charts in page 12.
• Winds:
  • How closer the isobars are?

Other Topics

• Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming:
  • Greenhouse gases?
  • Location of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
  • Day/Night radiation, what wavelengths are absorbed and re-radiated,
• El Niño and La Niña:
  • Wind direction, sea surface temperatures, and precipitation for both.
• Ozone Depletion:
  • Gas blocking incoming ultraviolet radiation?
  • Location of the greatest concentration of the gas?
• Monsoons:
  • Summer (Wet/Rainy) and Winter (Dry) seasons, characteristics in terms of pressure, land, and type of rainfall.
• Polaris:
  • What does Earth motion causes all the stars to appear to move?.

Explore the Big Bang theory, stellar evolution, and planet types. Understand the formation of the universe, star life cycles, and differences between terrestrial and Jovian planets. Use ESRT page 15 to compare stars and planets.