Cosmology - 04

OPENING QUESTIONS:  We've talked at length about how the Universe started with a *bang*.

How do you suppose the Universe will end?

OBJECTIVE:  

WORDS FOR TODAY:

  • CMBR ("Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation")
  • anti-matter (particles such as positrons and anti-protons that have opposite properties from the matter counterparts)
  • Big Bang
  • Strong Force (inside protons!)
  • Weak Force (not actually a force and very complicated. We will ignore this)
  • EM Force (electromagnetic force. Keeps electrons orbiting an atom's nucleus)
  • Gravity (the weakest of all the four forces)

Big Bang Time Line Items:

10-43 sec: Planck Time- The farthest back in time we think we'll *ever* be able to describe with science & math

10-32 sec: Inflation- The Universe expands *suddenly* faster than the speed of light.

10-6 sec: First particles (electrons!)

3 min:

300,000 years: The Universe cools off enough for electrons to get captured to form complete hydrogen and helium atoms.

1 Billion years: First stars/galaxie form

WORK O' THE DAY: 

Take a look at this image... see if it helps your analysis for today's opening question.

Let's take a walk around the room and see if we can get a bit more insight into a few of those....

Posted around the room are various stations -- You'll have about 5 minutes to get to each station and correlate and digest the information there.

    • You MUST stay with your group
    • Only one sheet of paper is allowed per group.
    • Only one pen is allowed per group
    • ONE person will lead the conversation at each station
      • everyone else MUST be quiet unless and until they are called upon by the leader of that station
      • you MUST rotate leaders at each station
    • The leader from the PREVIOUS station will be the recorder and will record the CONSENSUS of the group.
    • You MUST reach consensus before you move on

    Your job is to find characteristics for EACH of the possible scenarios for the death of the Universe shown in our opening graphic

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STATION #1 Haiku Station

STATION #2 Geometry Station

STATION #3 Definition Station

STATION #4 Destination Station

STATION #5 AGE Station

STATION #6 DATA Station