Untitled Quiz

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.