ELSCI NOTES PDF

LESSON 1: THEORIES OF THE 3. THE CYCLIC MODEL ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE (5) Proponent: ​Paul Steinhardt ​and Neil Turok​ 1. BIG BANG THEORY The most acceptable scientific explanation on how the universe began. Proposed by...

LESSON 1: THEORIES OF THE 3. THE CYCLIC MODEL ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE (5) Proponent: ​Paul Steinhardt ​and Neil Turok​ 1. BIG BANG THEORY The most acceptable scientific explanation on how the universe began. Proposed by Georges Lemaitre in 1931. Evidence of Big Bang: red shift “The universe began into a very small volume of hot and disorderly mass. Another universe died to give birth to a new Then, it expanded at a great speed. The one. After the collision, the exploded energy is transformed into matter, initiating the galaxies which were formed after the formation of the galaxies; thus, forming a big bang were moving away since then” new universe”. ​ RED SHIFT DISCOVERED BY EDWIN HUBBLE -> red is the lowest frequency, violet is the 4. THEORY OF INFLATION highest/shorter wavelengtht. Proponent: ​Alan Guth​ Like Einstein’s general theory of relativity, this theory also predicts the existence of 2. STEADY STATE THEORY gravitational waves. The universe did not originate from an explosive beginning, because it did not have The inflationary Universe theory a beginning. The universe keeps on creating purports that the Universe underwent a new matter as it expands in order to short and sudden episode of great expansion right after the Big Bang. This maintain its average density” phenomenon is called inflation and is believed to happen just 10-36​ 5. MULTIVERSE MODEL Proponent: Andrei Linde​ Inflation can be a never-ending process. Multitudes of universe, called multiverse, are created from a never-ending process of inflation ​  dark clouds that gave rise to the Sun and the planets.​ 4. MODERN LAPLACIAN THEORY The Sun and the planets were formed from a rotating nebula that cooled and collapsed. ​ Condensing rings turned into “There may be multiple or even an infinite number planets and the central mass of universes (including the universe we consistently became the Sun. ​ experience) that together comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, and LESSON 3: THE EARTH AND THE energy as well as the physical laws and constants SUBSYSTEMS that describe them. In this context, multiple universes are often referred to as parallel universes MEET THE EARTH: because they exist alongside our own”. The only planet known to support life​ LESSON 2: THEORIES OF THE ORIGIN OF The fifth largest planet in the solar THE SOLAR SYSTEM (4) system​ Composition: mostly made up of 1. PROTOPLANET THEORY Iron, Oxygen, Silicon, Magnesium​ Violent and disarray clouds Shape: oblate spheroid​ of dust caused the collision Diameter: 13,000 km​ of masses that formed the Average distance from the sun: Sun and the planets. 149,598,262 km (92,956,050 miles)​ Length of solar day (single rotation 2. CAPTURE THEORY on its axis): 23.934 hours​ The Sun’s gravity attracted Length of year (single revolution the materials in the around the sun): 365.26 days​ atmosphere of a protostar Equatorial inclination to orbit: which collapsed to form the 23.4393 degrees​ Protoplanets. Has four subsystems: atmosphere, The collision between them geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere​ gave birth to the terrestrial planets, while giant planets WHAT MAKES EARTH HABITABLE? are products of condensation of protoplanets.​ right distance from the Sun​ it is protected from harmful solar 3. ​SOLAR NEBULA THEORY radiation by its magnetic field​ The solar system began from it is kept warm by an insulating a dense rotating disk which atmosphere​ was made of hot gases and  it has the right chemical ingredients for life, including water 4.MESOSPHERE and carbon​ Most meteors burn up in this layer. The coldest temperatures in Earth's atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F), are found near the top of this layer. ​ 5. STRATOSPHERE This layer extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km above the ground. 1. ATMOSPHERE The ozone layer is found within the stratosphere “The blanket of air”​ It serves as the gaseous 6. TROPOSPHERE envelope that surrounds the The lowest layer of our atmosphere. Earth and constitutes the We humans live in this layer, and transition between the nearly all weather occurs in here. vacuum of space.​ Reaches over 560 km up to 7. GEOSPHERE the surface of the earth​ Chemical Composition: about Comprises the solid earth and 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, includes both earth surface and the 1% other gases​ various layers of the earth’s interior.​ Composed of five layers: Includes continental and ocean Exosphere,Thermosphere, crust. The surface (crust) is Mesosphere,Stratosphere, constantly moving.​ Troposphere​ Extends from surface to the center of the planet 2. EXOSPHERE The "final frontier" of Earth's L4: INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF EARTH gaseous envelope. The air in the exosphere is constantly leaking out 1.CRUST of Earth's atmosphere into outer the surface of the earth​ space.​ - Primary silica plus light metallic elements​ 3.THERMOSPHERE - Thickness: 15 – 20 km​ High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun are absorbed in this layer. 2. LITHOSPHERE frozen ground, and solid the outer part of the earth consisting of the crust and the upper mantle​ precipitation.​ 3. MANTLE 7. BIOSPHERE a molten layer ​ Primary silica plus iron and The “life zone” of the earth and magnesium​ includes all living organisms, and all Thickness: about 2,900 km​ organic matter that has not yet decomposed. ​ 4. CORE Is structured into a hierarchy known composed of iron and nickel​ as food chain. Outer core – liquid, 2,200 Biosphere is the interaction of the km thick​ three subsystems – atmosphere, Inner core – solid, 1,250 km hydrosphere, and geosphere thick​ FOOD CHAIN: 5. HYDROSPHERE Includes all water on earth (including surface water and ground water)​ Includes water in the surface of the planet, groundwater, water trapped in the soil, water vapor, frozen water in glaciers and ice caps​ 3% of water is fresh water​ 70% of fresh water is frozen in the form of glaciers and ice caps 6. CRYOSPHERE Cryosphere includes the components of the Earth The interactions of the Subsystems: System at and below the The Earth is made of several land and ocean surface that subsystems or "spheres" that interact to are frozen, including snow form a complex and continuously cover, glaciers, ice sheets, changing whole called the Earth system. ice shelves, icebergs, sea There is a continuous flow of matter and ice, lake ice, river ice, energy between the hydrosphere, permafrost, and seasonally atmosphere, geosphere, and the biosphere, where all life forms exist​  Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air (atmosphere) and sending lava and ash down onto surrounding forests (biosphere) and human habitations (biosphere).​