Week 8

1. What did you do in lab today?

In lab, each group presented on their chosen concept such as origin of the universe, life cycles of stars, origin of the earth, galaxies, space travel, and black holes. My group did origin of the earth. These presentations included preconceptions, current science understanding, and other information. It was interesting to hear all of the preconceptions. I found that a lot of understandings come from religious or cultural beliefs. While these are known beliefs, they are not proven by science. It was also interesting to hear how we are continually learning more and these theories continue to change each day. 

2. What was the big question?

What are the preconceptions and current science understanding of various space topics?

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?

In lecture, I learned more about the origin of the universe. The current theory is the Big Bang Theory. We looked at how subatomic particles inflated to unimaginably huge size in a fraction of a second (expansion not an explosion). The origin of the earth was not created in the big bang. It was formed from dust and debris that was most likely from a former star that exploded. I also learned how our sun was formed. It formed from a stellar nebula (dust and debris) most likely from a star that underwent supernova. 

4. Textbook 

a) What did you learn?

I learned more about the big bang theory and how this created the universe. This theory says that everything that ever existed was contained in a subatomic particle that was billions of times smaller than an atom. Within a fraction of a second, this particle stretch and inflated to an unimaginably huge size. Space, time, and the fundamental particles of the universe were created in this instant. I also learned more information about stars. As a star burns, it loses mass and has less gravity so its size increases. An average star will turn into a red giant. Eventually this star will become a super red giant and runs out of fuel and collapses on itself to create an explosion called a supernova. 

b) What was most helpful?

It was most helpful to look at the timeline that shows the key events in the formation of the universe. The universe was created 13.7 billion years ago from the big bang. 13.5 billion years ago was the first black holes formation, 13.3 billion years ago was mass star formation, 12.6 billion years ago was milky way formation, and 4.5 billion years ago was the sun, earth, and moon formation. 

c) What do you need more information on?

I would like more information on space travel. I am interested in why there has not been space travel recently. 

d) What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have?

What happened in the 9 billion years between the Big Bang and the formation of Earth?

Why was the formation of Earth not sooner?

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