Exploring the Universe

I.) Properties of StarsA. Color and Temperature

1. A star’s color indicates that temperature of its surface a. Hottest stars (surface temps above

30,000K) appear blue (*Hotter objects glow w/light that is more intense & has shorter wavelengths)

b. Milder stars (surface temps between 5,000-6,000K) appear yellow

c. Relatively cool stars (surface temps ~3,000K) appear red

B. Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram: a graph of the surface temperature (or color) and absolute brightness of a sample of stars

1. H-R diagrams are used to estimate the sizes of stars and their distances, and to infer how stars change over timea. Horizontal axis=surface temperature b. Vertical axis=absolute brightness

H-R Diagram

Brightness of a Star

The actual “brightness” of a star depends upon 3 things: actual size of the star, temperature, and distance from Earth

2. Main-Sequence Starsa. Main sequence: A line or sequence in

an H-R diagram where most stars spend 90% of their life.

i. A diagonal band running from the bright, hot stars on the upper left to the dim, cool stars on the lower right

ii. Example: The Sun lies in the main sequence

3. Giants and Dwarfsa. Very bright stars in upper right of H-R

diagram are known as supergiantsi. Very large (100 to 1000 times the

diameter of the sun)b. Just below the supergiants are the

giantsc. Below the main sequence are the

white dwarfs, which are the small, dense remains of a low- or medium-mass star

D. Energy From Stars1. Energy moves through the layers of a

star by combination of convection, conduction, and radiationa. Convection: rising hot gas moves

upward, away from the star’s center, and cooler, denser gas sinks toward the center

c. Radiation occurs when energy radiates out from the star in the form of light

i. Travels at the speed of lightii. Light from Sun

takes 8 minutes to reach Earthiii. Light and heat both travel this

way from a star

II.) Life Cycle of StarsA. How Stars Form

1. Nebula: a large cloud of dust & gas in interstellar spacea. Composed of mainly hydrogen gasb. Gravity pulls the small pieces of

dust to clump together & form a protostar

Nuclear Fusion RewindB. Fusion: the process in which smaller

nuclei fuse together at extremely high temperatures and release energy (occurs in stars like the sun)

C. Light nuclei combine to form heavy nuclei ( hydrogen actively fuses into helium gas)

1. In nuclear fusion, tremendous amounts of energy can be produced from very small amounts of mass

. 2H + 3 H 4He + 1n 1 1 2 0

Fusion Reaction

2. Nuclear fusion begins to take control over the gravity and the star begins to stabilize

a. Fusion reactions in the core produce an outward force that balances the inward force of gravity

b. Cool fusion clip

What force is responsible for causing interstellar material to condense and form our sun?

GRAVITY

B. Adult Stars1. Most stars spend 90% of their life

in main sequence2. Once achieving nuclear fusion,

stars radiate energy into space

C. The Death of a Star1. When the hydrogen fuel has run out &

fusion can no longer continue, the star collapses because the forces are no longer balanced

2. Core collapses because of its own gravity & then rebounds with a shock wave that violently blows the star’s outer layers away from the core

The path a star takes in its life cycle depends on its size/mass

3. LARGE MASS STARS : Results in huge, bright explosion called a supernova

a. Supernova produce heavier elements up to the element iron.

The path a star takes in its life cycle depends on its size/mass

Star Life Cycle

Cool Star Video

Some Definitions

Universe- the sum of all space, matter, & energy that exists, that has existed in the past, & that will exist in the future -everything physical that exists in space & timeGalaxy- a collection of stars, dust, & gas bound together by gravitySolar System- the sun & all of the planets & other bodies that travel around it.

B. Big Bang Theory1. The Big Bang Theory states

that all matter and energy in the universe was compressed into an extremely small volume that 10 to 20 billion years ago exploded and began expanding in all directions

Big Bang Theory

Believed it took millions of years for the universe to “cool” because of the chaotic explosionAfter 1 million years it is believed the first hydrogen atom formed and fusion beganTherefore, stars (like our sun) could form

III.) Evidence for Big Bang: Expanding Universe

A. Hubble’s Law1. Edwin Hubble used observations of spectral lines

from other galaxies to conclude that the universe is expanding

a. Lines shifted toward the red end of the visible light spectrum

b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhfnqboacV0

c. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kw4id0NvJ0&NR=1&feature=fvwp

2. Red shift: the apparent shift toward longer wavelengths of light caused when a luminous object moves away from the observer

a. Red shift showed that nearly all galaxies are getting farther away from Earth

3. Blue shift: an apparent shift toward shorter wavelengths of light caused when a luminous object moves towards the observer

Electromagnetic Spectrum

3. Evidence for the Banga. Red shift, and cosmic background

radiationb. Cosmic background radiation: steady,

but very dim signals in the form of microwaves that are emitted all over the sky

i. Scientists believe that these microwaves are the remains of the radiation produced during the Big Bang

ii. Cosmic Background Radiation

4. What is the future of our universe?

a. It all depends on the mass of our universe

b. One of 3 things can happen:i. Universe can continue to expandii. Universe can stop expanding and remain

constantiii. Universe can collapse in on itself (“Big

Crunch”)

What causes the moon to “shine?”

It’s actually a reflection of the sun’s light off the surface. As the moon revolves around Earth, the illuminated portion of the side of the moon facing Earth changes. ck to the earth.

MoonThe moon is able to be illuminated due to the sun’s light reflecting off of its surface

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/moonphase.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMyqPxFh5Zw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlks&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHxcWSiD_4E

The Milky Way- our galaxy is a spiral galaxy