Podcast
Questions and Answers
How old is the Universe?
How old is the Universe?
How old is Earth estimated to be?
How old is Earth estimated to be?
Who was the first man in space?
Who was the first man in space?
What are comets mostly made of?
What are comets mostly made of?
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What is the most distant object visible to the naked eye?
What is the most distant object visible to the naked eye?
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What planet is closest to the Sun?
What planet is closest to the Sun?
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How many moons does Uranus have?
How many moons does Uranus have?
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What is the Sun mainly made from?
What is the Sun mainly made from?
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How long does it take for sunlight to reach Earth?
How long does it take for sunlight to reach Earth?
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Where is the Asteroid Belt located?
Where is the Asteroid Belt located?
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What is cosmology?
What is cosmology?
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What is the Big Bang Theory?
What is the Big Bang Theory?
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What are the components of the universe as per current understanding?
What are the components of the universe as per current understanding?
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What is creationism?
What is creationism?
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What are creation myths?
What are creation myths?
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Study Notes
Objectives of the Module
- Understand various theories regarding the universe and solar system's origin.
- Develop a model to comprehend the universe's expansion over time.
- Highlight Earth's uniqueness as the only planet capable of supporting life.
Age of the Universe
- Estimated to be approximately 13.8 billion years old.
- Determined by assessing the oldest known stars and measuring the universe's expansion rate.
Composition of the Universe
- 5% of normal matter contributes to stars and planets.
- 25% is dark matter, which does not emit light or energy.
- 70% consists of dark energy, driving the universe's expansion.
Theories on the Origin of the Universe
- Two main categories: Non-scientific and Scientific theories.
- Non-scientific:
- Creationism: Belief that God created the universe from nothing in six days.
- Creation Myths: Cultural narratives describing the world's beginnings, transmitted through generations.
Scientific Theories
-
Big Bang Theory:
- Proposed by Alexander Friedman and Georges Lemaitre in 1929.
- Suggests that the universe originated from a significant and rapid expansion roughly 13.8 billion years ago.
-
Oscillating Universe Theory:
- Alternative scientific view, not elaborated in the provided text.
Earth's Estimated Age
- Earth is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old.
Cosmic Objects
- Comets primarily consist of dirty ice and dust.
- The most distant visible object without aids is the Andromeda galaxy.
- Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun.
- Uranus is known to have 27 moons.
Solar System Facts
- The Sun primarily comprises gas, chiefly hydrogen and helium.
- It takes sunlight about 8 minutes to reach Earth.
- The Asteroid Belt is situated between Mars and Jupiter.
Notable Space Milestones
- Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space.
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