Science- Astronomy

Proficiency 1
I can analyze the origins of our solar system. Starting with the sun, my research will emphasize how our solar system formed, the differences between inner planets and outer planets, and analyze the future of our sun and the solar system.

Author's Note: For this proficiency I wanted to show my information in a creative way so I chose glogster. I created a online poster with links and information and that shows the information well.



Bibliography:

"Fact Monster: Online Almanac, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Homework Help — FactMonster.com." Fact Monster: Online Almanac, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Homework Help — FactMonster.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. .

"Solar System Formation." Windows to the Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. .

"Solar System Formation." Windows to the Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. .

"The Inner Planets | Scholastic.com." Teaching Resources, Children's Book Recommendations, and Student Activities | Scholastic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2011.

"The Outer Planets | Scholastic.com." Teaching Resources, Children's Book Recommendations, and Student Activities | Scholastic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. . 


Proficiency 2

I can analyze the differences between comets, asteroids, meteors and moons. I will research orbits  and discuss differences of what we see from the Earth’s surface (phases). I will analyze the effect the  moon’s orbit has on our planet. I will predict what would happen if Earth had a 2nd moon or the  distance to the moon was increased or decreased.

Author's Note:
I chose to do a power point for this proficiency because there was a lot of information that needed explained and the most efficient way to do that was through power point. I put a lot of information into this power point and pictures and that made a power point the best way to show information.
 

Citations on the power point.




Proficiency 3
I can effectively explain the different theories of the universe. I will discuss theories starting from Ancient Greece through the theories discussed in present day. I will analyze all theories and make a judgment based on my research on which is most valid.

 Author's Note: I decided to use Word for the first part of this proficiency I thought that I could get my information across clear and strong. For the second part I made a power point to enhance my ideas and thoughts and research with pictures.



Proficiency 3
I can effectively explain the different theories of the universe. I will discuss theories starting from Ancient Greece through the theories discussed in present day. I will analyze all theories and make a judgment based on my research on which is most valid.


Ancient Greece Theories

People back in the days of Ancient Greece believed in Polytheism. Which is the belief and worship in many gods, the people that believed in this religion thought that their gods had created everything. Besides the people that believed in Polytheism there were two other theories on how the universe was created. One theory was Ptolemaic system; this system was created by early philosophers and it said that Earth lay at the center of the universe and the sun, moons, and other known planets revolved around it in complicated orbits. Beyond the largest orbit was a sphere of fixed stars. The other theory that is similar but different to the Ptolemaic system was the Copernican, this system was founded in 1543 and it said that the Earth and planet’s revolved around the sun.


Isaac Newton

After the Ancient Greece theories the next biggest idea about the universe was thought of by Isaac Newton. Isaac Newton came up with the law of gravity. He discovered that every object attracts another object, even in space. Saying this he realized that if the universe had an end the forces of all object would force the universe to collapse. This law proved that the universe is infinite.


Albert Einstein

In 1879 to 1955 the Theory of Relativity became popular because of Einstein’s major contribution. Einstein didn’t introduce this theory but he was the main contributor towards. This theory states that an object that moves close to or at the speed of light will shorten and move slower for someone who is viewing it on Earth. Also Einstein introduced the formula E=mc squared. This formula and this theory are important because he applied it to the gravitational fields to gain knowledge on the space time continuum. The space time continuum is a 2D surface where big objects create dips and valleys. Using his knowledge Einstein could explain how light bends around the sun and how to predict a black hole.


Steady State Theory

This theory was discovered around the same time as Einstein’s theories. The Steady State Theory was suggested in 1948. It stated that new space material was continuously being made so overall the universe would not change. At the time some scientists believed in this theory but later it was shot down and many people and scientists don’t believe in it anymore.

Present Day Theories

The most popular present day theory is the Big Bang Theory, this theory states that everything, space, time, and matter was created around 15 to 20 million years ago. At this time scientists believed that the universe was very small and hot and then the Big Bang caused the small universe to expand and is thought to still be expanding today. Some scientists say that there wasn’t a real explosion that it was just an expansion; others say that there was a real explosion and minutes after it exploded it made gases such as helium and hydrogen, which over time produced the universe that we see today. Scientists don’t how this small hot universe got here or why it expanded how it did.

Another small theory that isn’t well known as much as the Big Bang Theory is called the Bouncing Universe Theory, this says that the universe has multiple beginnings and ends it continuously gets small and then expands again.

The Big Bang theory is the most popular theory and is the most well known but there are other components to the universes formation besides The Big Bang. There are theories that state how big the universe is, these are named Open Universe Theory, Closed Universe Theory, and Flat Universe Theory. The Open Universe Theory says that the universe will go on forever and ever while the Closed Universe Theory says that the universe will eventually stop expanding and collapse on its self. The Flat Universe Theory says that the universe will keep expanding but the expansion rate will eventually slow to zero after an infinite amount of time.


What do I think?
           
            Personally I think that most valid theory is the Big Bang Theory. I think that this is more reasonable than the other theories that I researched. Everything started from something so I think it’s more reasonable that the universe would start small and gradually get bigger rather than all just magically appearing. I go against some of the scientists though saying that there was an explosion, I don’t think that there was an explosion in space it is unlikely to say that there was a huge explosion in space and then there was our solar system so I agree with the other group of scientists saying that there wasn’t an explosion. For this small universe to gradually increase seems more realistic to me, I say this because this theory is thought to have started 15 to 20 million years ago so if there was an sudden explosion I think that there would have been life on Earth way before when our history started so it makes more sense for the universe to have gradually gotten bigger throughout time.

            Going along with the Big Bang Theory I also believe that the Fold Universe Theory is correct as well. To say that the universe has an end go against Isaac’s idea that every object in the universe attracts another object, also I can’t wrap my head around the fact that there could be an end to the universe. Going against my previous thoughts I find it even harder to think about the universe being endless that’s why I believe that the Fold Universe Theory is correct because it’ s a combination of both of the other theories.


Proficiency 3 Pictures
View more presentations from Kate022.

Bibliography

  • "Anti-Relativity.com • View topic - Aether Displacement." Anti Relativity : The Theory of Anti Relativity . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. .
  • "Big Bang Theory." Big Bang Theory. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. .
  • "Department of Physics - Carleton University." Department of Physics - Carleton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. .
  • "Greek Theories." Space. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. .
  • "MSR God Exists." Mustard Seed Recording. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. .
  • "Ptolemy vs Copernicus." Department of Physics - Carleton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. .
  • competitions, and other subscriber-only content. "The Internet is just like the Universe - The Internet - Seopher.com." Marketing, software reviews, web development and blogging - Seopher.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2011.



Proficiency 4
I can identify key technological advancements that helped in making our knowledge of space  expand. My research will show the past, but I will also predict what future advancements may  stretch our limits even more.

Authors Note: I decided to do a Prezi for this proficiency because I thought it was a good way to show my information.



Proficiency 4 on Prezi

Bibliography
"Factsheets : Discoverer XIV." National Museum of the USAF - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. .

"Mercury Seven - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. . 

 "NASA - International Space Station." NASA - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .

"NASA - 50th Anniversary of the Mercury 7 Press Announcement." NASA - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. . 

 "Pioneer 1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. .

 "SPACE TODAY ONLINE - Space Today Online covering Space from Earth to the Edge of the Universe." SPACE TODAY ONLINE - Space Today Online covering Space from Earth to the Edge of the Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .

"TheSpaceRace.com - Timeline of Space Exploration." TheSpaceRace.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. .  

"Vanguard 3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. .

 

Proficiency5
I can investigate dark matter and dark energy. What is it and how does it impact what we know  about astronomy. What are the potential implications if we could harness and store dark matter or  dark energy?

Author's Note: For this proficiency I decided to use vuvox. I used this because I thought that it would be the most effective way to use a combination of a lot of text and pictures and still get my point across clear.



Bibliography

"Curious About Astronomy: How do we know if the universe will keep expanding forever? ." Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2011. <http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=63>.

"Dark Energy As a Source of Power." EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original Articles For Massive Exposure, Ezine Publishers Get 25 Free Article Reprints. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Dark-Energy-As-a-Source-of-Power&id=3514929>.

"Dark Energy, Dark Matter - NASA Science." NASA Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011. <http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-is-dark-energy/>.

"European Association for Astronomy Education » Dark Energy." EAAE-European Association for Astronomy Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2011. <http://eaae-astronomy.org/blog/?cat=174>.

"HubbleSite - NewsCenter - Refined Hubble Constant Narrows Possible Explanations for Dark Energy (05/07/2009) - Introduction." HubbleSite - Out of the ordinary...out of this world.. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011. <http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/08/>.

"JDEM." Nasa Missions. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2011. .

"Out Among the Dark Stars." Centauri Dreams — The News Forum of the Tau Zero Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011. <http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=1610>.

"The Hidden Lives of Galaxies - Hidden Mass." Imagine The Universe! Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011. <http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/galaxies/imagine/dark_matter.html>.

"dark matter." The Worlds of David Darling. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011. <http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/D/darkmat.html>.




"star - io9." io9. We come from the future.. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011. <http://io9.com/tag/star/>.



Proficiency 6
I can research black holes. What are they? How do scientists find black holes? What are some  theories regarding black holes? What is the line of singularity? What are some theories of what’s at  the bottom of a black hole? Which theory do you think is most probable? Why?


Author's Note: I chose to do a prezi for this presentation.



Proficiency 6 on Prezi


"Falling to the Singularity of the Black Hole." CASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://casa.colorado.edu/~ajsh/singularity.html>.

"Falling to the Singularity of the Black Hole (Movie)." CASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://casa.colorado.edu/~ajsh/bhi_gif.html>.

"NASA - What Is a Black Hole?." NASA - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html>.
reality., the theory simply shifts the original creation event into an alternate. "Every Black Hole Contains 

Another Universe?." Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100409-black-holes-alternate-universe-multiverse-einstein-wormholes/>.




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