Download 15 Billion

Name __________________________
Period _____________
THE BIG PICTURE
In the
beginning
1) The Big Bang –
Universe begins to
expand, clock
starts ticking (time
2) 1st generation stars
form (no heavy
elements), and group
together into the first
galaxies
4) 2nd and 3rd generation
stars form from this
exploded star debris
(interstellar dust and gas).
Stars now have heavy
elements in them.
3) 1st supernova
explosions.
Heavy elements
are now formed
begins)
15 billion years ago (bya)
5) Galaxies
collide to form
bigger
galaxies
7) A shockwave from a local supernova
compresses interstellar gas and dust
(exploded debris) from a 3rd, 4th or 5th
generation star, which allows gravity to
coalesce the debris into our solar system.
6) Each successive
generation of stars
possesses a higher %
of heavier elements.
10 bya
Formation
of our
solar
system
8) From 5 to 4 bya,
coalescing of gas &
dust and asteroid/rock
collisions dominate.
Proto-sun and protoplanets form.
9) The Sun’s nuclear
furnace ignites; this
energy blows away
excess gas & dust.
The Sun becomes a
star.
10) 4.5 bya, a Mars-sized
object collides into the
young Earth, and the Moon
is formed. Other planets
also experience major
collisions.
5 bya
4.5 bya
11) By 3.8 bya, major
coalescing stops. Planets have
formed. Earth’s oceans and
atmosphere are formed. Life
begins on Earth. No oxygen in
the air.
4 bya
12) Comets, the remnants
of the original dust & gas,
and asteroids continue to
hit the Earth, causing
major extinctions. Life
still evolves.
13) Tonawanda
Earth Science
class is in
session.
Today
Procedure:
On the following page, match the above sequence of events with their supportive
scientific evidence.
Match the Evidence with the Event
Event
1. _____________
2. _____________
3. _____________
4. _____________
5. _____________
6. _____________
7. _____________
8. _____________
9. _____________
10. _____________
11. _____________
12. _____________
13. _____________
Supportive Evidence
a. Telescopes capture images of galaxies
colliding.
b. Computer models of planetary collisions
create an Earth-Moon system like ours. The
composition of the Moon matches the mantle.
c. The age of large impact craters on the Earth
match the age extinctions in the fossil record.
d. In 1987, a supernova is observed creating
heavy elements.
e. 4.3 billion year old rocks come from heavily
cratered section of the Moon, while 3.8 billion
year old rocks come from lightly cratered section
of Moon. Oldest fossils are about 3.8 by old.
f. Mathematical models predict that stars the size of
the Sun will undergo nuclear fusion in their core.
g. All galaxies are red-shifting, i.e., the universe is
expanding. Cosmic background radiation, a
remnant of the big bang, is observed.
h. Hubble space telescope observes young stars
centered in disks of coalescing gas & dust.
i. In 2002, a star is discovered that contains no
heavy elements (only hydrogen & helium). It
is considered to be a 1st generation star.
j. Spectral analysis of stars show that some have
very few heavy elements, some have slightly
more, and some have a higher concentration.
k. Tonawanda students pass the regents earth
science test in June.
l. Interstellar dust & gas contains 75% hydrogen,
25% helium, and a small percentage of heavy
elements and molecules. Hubble space telescope
observes the formation of stars from this debris.
m. Ancient surfaces on planets and moons in the
solar system (between 4 & 5 billion years old)
are heavily cratered by asteroid impacts.