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Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1
Earth Science
Prepared by: Marielle C. Dabucol
City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy

Learning Competency:

Formation of the universe and the solar system

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 What I Need To Know

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
 State the different hypotheses explaining the origin of the universe
 Describe the different hypotheses explaining the origin of the solar system

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 What I Know

KWL Chart - What I Know (K), What I Want to Know (W), What I Learned (L)
What I Know (K) What I Want to Know (W) What I Learned (L)

Essential Questions:
1. How did the universe originate?
2. What caused the universe to expand?
3. How did the solar system form?

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 What’s In

Answer the following:

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 What’s New
Our knowledge about the universe is still limited. Scientists estimate that the universe
originated around 13.7 billion years ago. The solar system, on the other hand, is believed to
have formed about 4.5 billion years ago. Scientists who persistently explore the universe
contributed to our understanding of the universe and proposed theories on how all these things
started.
Origin of the Universe
All the star system, galaxies, gases and dusts, including all the matter and energy that exist at
present, even those that existed in the past and will exist in the future, are contained in the
universe. The universe is so vast that includes all of space and time. The study of the universe
is called cosmology. Experts in this field who study the structure and changes in the present
universe are called cosmologists.
Origin of the Solar System
Today we know that our solar system is just one tiny place in the universe. The Sun-centered
model gives an accurate description of the solar system, with the Sun at the center and the
planets moving around it in elliptical orbits. How did the planets, moons, and asteroids exist?
The four major theories that explain the formation of the solar system are the protoplanet
theory, the capture theory, the solar nebula theory, and the modern Laplacian theory.

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 What Is It
Origin of the Universe
All the stars systems, galaxies, gases and dusts, including all the matter and energy that exist
at present, even those that existed in the past and will exist in the future, are contained in the
universe. The universe is so vast that it includes all of space and time. The study of the universe
is called cosmology. Experts in this field who study the structure and changes in the present
universe are called cosmologists.
Different theories of the origin of the universe
A. Big Bang Theory
The big bang theory is the modern and widely accepted explanation of the origin of the
universe. In 1931, George Lemaitre, a Belgian physicist and Roman Catholic priest, proposed
what is now known as the big bang theory. He reasoned that if the universe at present is
expanding and the galaxies are moving apart, then in the past, it contracted and decreased in
volume. Everything that was contained in it were squeezed into a very small volume of hot and
disorderly mass. A tremendous explosion occurred-the “big bang” which caused the universe
to expand at a great speed. All the matter and energy in the universe and even space itself are
the results of the big bang.
Immediately after the explosion, the universe was tremendously hot and dense. As it expanded,
it became less dense and began to cool. After a few seconds, protons, neutrons, and electrons
were formed. A few more minutes passed and these subatomic particles combined and created
hydrogen. The energy in the universe was so great that it triggered nuclear fusion and caused
hydrogen nuclei to fuse and form helium nuclei. Heavy compact masses held together by
gravity spread out. These compact masses later formed the enormous number of stars, galaxies,
and other structures that are now observed in the universe.
The theory rests on two ideas: General Relativity and the Cosmological Principle. In Einstein’s
General Theory of Relativity, gravity is thought of as a distortion of space-time and no longer
described by a gravitational field in contrast to the Law of Gravity of Isaac Newton. General
Relativity explains the peculiarities of the orbit of Mercury and the bending of light by the Sun
and has passed rigorous tests. The Cosmological Principle assumes that the universe is
homogeneous and isotropic when averaged over large scales. This is consistent with our current
large-scale image of the universe. But keep in mind that it is clumpy at smaller scales.
The Big Bang Theory has withstood the tests for expansion: 1) the redshift 2) abundance of
hydrogen, helium, and lithium, and 3) the uniformly pervasive cosmic microwave background
radiation-the remnant heat from the bang.

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 Figure 1: Big Bang Timeline
(Source: http://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/big-bang-theory-timeline1.jpg)
B. Non-scientific Thought
Ancient Egyptians believed in many gods and myths which narrate that the world arose from
an infinite sea at the first rising of the sun. The Kuba people of Central Africa tell the story of
a creator god Mbombo (or Bumba) who, alone in a dark and water-covered Earth, felt an intense
stomach pain and then vomited the stars, sun, and moon. In India, there is the narrative that
gods sacrificed Purusha, the primal man whose head, feet, eyes, and mind became the sky,
earth, sun, and moon respectively. The monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam claim that a supreme being created the universe, including man and other living
organisms.
Unlike hypotheses in the sciences, religious beliefs cannot be subjected to tests using the
scientific method. For this reason, they cannot be considered valid topic of scientific inquiry.
C. Steady State Theory. It states that the counting of the galaxies in our Universe is constant
and new galaxies which are forming continuously are filling the empty spaces which are created
by those heavenly bodies which have crossed the boundary lines of observable Universe. This
theory proposes that the overall structure of the universe is always the same at any point in time
and space. This structure is maintained even when certain events, such as birth of new stars,
occur. It is balanced by the death of old stars.

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Different theories of the origin of the solar system
A. Protoplanet Theory
The protoplanet theory was proposed by the British astronomer and mathematician, William
Hunter McCrea, in 1960. It states that the Sun and the planets were formed simultaneously.
They started with a cloud of dust and gas in a state of violent disturbance and chaos. This
resulted in the rapid collision of matter within the cloud and masses coalesced in different
places that formed the Sun and the planets.
B. Capture Theory
The capture theory was suggested by British physicist and planetary scientist, Michael Mark
Woolfson, in 1964. It gives an account of an interaction between a condensed solar mass star,
which was the Sun, and a lesser mass protostar. The Sun was formed ahead of the planets as
evidenced by its slow rotation. The strong gravitational force of the Sun pulled matter from the
atmosphere of the protostar causing it to collapse and form the protoplanets. Collision between
the protoplanets that were close to the Sun gave birth to the terrestrial planets. The giant planets
and their satellites were formed through condensation of the protoplanets. Some of the moons
were actually asteroids that were captured by the planets that they surrounded.
C. The Solar Nebula Theory
The solar nebula theory was proposed by Alastair G.W. Cameron, a Canadian astrophysicist
and space scientist, in 1973. The solar system began with a slowly rotating nebula. The planet
formation started with a disk of 0.01 to 0.1 solar masses (the solar mass, M, is used to measure
the masses of stars, nebulae, and galaxies, and is ≈ 1.99 x 1030 kg). This disk was made of hot
gases and dust cloud. It was believed that the planets originated from this dense disk which
formed from material in the gas and dust cloud that collapsed to form the Sun. The density of
the disk was sufficient enough to allow the formation of the planets.
D. Modern Laplacian Theory
Pierre-Simon Laplace, a French scholar of mathematics, statistics, physics, and astronomy,
first suggested in 1796 that the Sun and the planets formed from a rotating nebula which cooled
and collapsed. It condensed into rings which eventually formed the planets and a central mass,
which became the Sun. The modern version assumes that the central mass contained solid dust
grains, which caused the gas to move slowly as the center condensed. Eventually, after the core
slowed down, its temperature rose and the dust evaporated to form clouds. The slowly rotating
core became the Sun.

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 What’s More
Evolution of the Universe according to the Big Bang Theory
 From time zero (13.8 billion years ago) until 10-43 second later, all matter and energy
in the universe existed as a hot, dense, tiny state (fig. 7). It then underwent extremely
rapid, exponential inflation until 10-32 second later after which and until 10 seconds
from time zero, conditions allowed the existence of only quarks, hadrons, and leptons.
 Then, Big Bang nucleosynthesis took place and produced protons, neutrons, atomic
nuclei, and then hydrogen, helium, and lithium until 20 minutes after time zero when
sufficient cooling did not allow further nucleosynthesis.
 From then on until 380,000 years, the cooling universe entered a matter-dominated
period when photons decoupled from matter and light could travel freely as still
observed today in the form of cosmic microwave background radiation.
 As the universe continued to cool down, matter collected into clouds giving rise to only
stars after 380,000 years and eventually galaxies would form after 100 million years
from time zero during which, through nucleosynthesis in stars, carbon and elements
heavier than carbon were produced.
 From 9.8 billion years until the present, the universe became dark-energy dominated
and underwent accelerating expansion. At about 9.8 billion years after the big bang, the
solar system was formed.
In the late 1920s the American astronomer Edwin Hubble made a very interesting and
important discovery and announced his significant discovery of the “red shift” (Figure 2.1) and
its interpretation that galaxies are moving away from each other, hence as evidence for an
expanding universe, just as predicted by Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. Hubble
made observations that he interpreted as showing that distant stars and galaxies are receding
from Earth in every direction. Moreover, the velocities of recession increase in proportion with
distance, a discovery that has been confirmed by numerous and repeated measurements since
Hubble’s time. The implication of these findings is that the universe is expanding.
Hubble’s hypothesis of an expanding universe leads to certain deductions. One is that the
universe was more condense at a previous time. From this deduction came the suggestion that
all the currently observed matter and energy in the universe were initially condense in a very
small and infinitely hot mass. A huge explosion, known as the Big Bang, then sent matter and
energy expanding in all directions.

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 Figure 2: Edwin Hubble
https://www.nap.edu/read/6024/chapter/3

Figure 5. Red shift as evidence for an expanding universe. The positions of the absorptions
lines for helium for light coming from the Sun (A) are shifted towards the red end as
compared with those for a distant star (B).
(Source: http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/Q&A/KS4/space/diagrams/spectra.png)
This is similar to the Doppler effect for sound waves: to a stationary observer, the frequency
or pitch of a receding source decreases as it moves away.

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SOLAR SYSTEM
Age of Solar System is at 4.6 billion years old based on radioactive dating of meteorites (Solar
System is much younger than the Universe);
A. Overview
 The solar system is located in the Milky Way galaxy - a huge disc- and spiral-shaped
aggregation of about at least 100 billion stars and other bodies (fig. 3);
 Its spiral arms rotate around a globular cluster or bulge of many, many stars, at the
center of which lies a supermassive blackhole;
 This galaxy is about 100 million light years across (1 light year = 9.4607 × 1012 km;
 The solar system revolves around the galactic center once in about 240 million years;
 The Milky Way is part of the so-called Local Group of galaxies, which in turn is part
of the Virgo supercluster of galaxies;
 Based on the assumption that they are remnants of the materials from which they were
formed, radioactive dating of meteorites, suggests that the Earth and solar system are
4.6 billion years old, on the assumption that they are remnants of the materials from
which they were formed.

Figure 2: The Solar System position with respect to the Milky Way
Galaxyhttp://www.basicknowledge101.com/photos/earthinmilkyway.jpg

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B. Large Scale Features of the Solar System
 Much of the mass of the Solar System is concentrated at the center (Sun) while angular
momentum is held by the outer planets.
 Orbits of the planets elliptical and are on the same plane.
 All planets revolve around the sun.
 The periods of revolution of the planets increase with increasing distance from the Sun;
the innermost planet moves fastest, the outermost, the slowest;
 All planets are located at regular intervals from the Sun.
C. Small scale features of the Solar System
 Most planets rotate prograde
 Inner terrestrial planets are made of materials with high melting points such as silicates,
iron, and nickel. They rotate slower, have thin or no atmosphere, higher densities, and
lower contents of volatiles - hydrogen, helium, and noble gases.
 The outer four planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called "gas giants"
because of the dominance of gases and their larger size. They rotate faster, have thick
atmosphere, lower densities, and fluid interiors rich in hydrogen, helium and ices
(water, ammonia, methane).
D. Element Abundance on Earth, Meteorites, and Universe
Table 1 shows the abundance of elements across bodies in the solar system as compared to
abundance in the universe.
 Except for hydrogen, helium, inert gases, and volatiles, the universe and Earth have
similar abundance especially for rock and metal elements.

Table 1: Abundance of Elements.

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 What I Have Learned
Make a concept map about the theories on the origin of the universe and the solar system.
Choose the words inside the box.
Laplacian Theory Solar Nebula Theory Solar System
Protoplanet Theory Universe Big Bang Theory Capture Theory

expansion supported by where lies the

explained by

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 What I Can Do

For this activity, you will need a deflated round rubber balloon, small circles (round paper
discarded from a puncher), and glue.
1. Glue the small circles on the surface of the balloon about 2 cm apart.
2. Inflate the balloon by blowing air into it.
Questions:
1. Do the circles get any larger as the balloon is inflated? What do these circles represents?
2. What does the balloon represent? As the universe expands, what happens to the size of the
galaxies?
3. What relationship exists between the speed of the galaxies moving apart and their initial
distance from one another?

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 Assessment

Read each question and answer choice carefully and choose the ONE best answer.
1. Most scientist believe the Big Bang Theory explains which of the following questions?
a) How our planets and moons formed
b) How the sun turns hydrogen into helium
c) How our universe began
d) How fast light travels through space
2. What 2 things make up everything in the Universe?
a) Matter and heat
b) Energy and matter
c) Energy and dust
d) Mass and volume
3. Red shift means
a) Galaxies are moving away from each other
b) Galaxies are moving towards each other
c) Both A and B
d) None of the above
4. The Milky Way Galaxy
a) an increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves
b) a particle attracts every other particle in the universe
c) an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases
d) is the galaxy that contains our Solar System
5. The theory that explains the formation of the solar system is called _______.
a) Nebulis Theory
b) Big Bang Theory
c) Nebular Theory
d) Big Nebulan Theory
6. What two elements is the universe made primarily of?
a) Carbon and nitrogen
b) Hydrogen and helium
c) Iron and nickel

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 d) Silicon and oxygen
7. Where did the heavy elements that make up the bulk of the earth originate?
a) In a supernova
b) In meteorites
c) In the Big Bang
d) In the sun
8. The age of the universe is probably close to _______.
a) 13-14 billion years
b) 13-14 million years
c) 14-15 billion years
d) 14-15 million years
9. What type of galaxy do we live in?
a) Spiral
b) Irregular
c) Elliptical
d) Coaxial
10. ______ is a force that causes dust particles to stick together in a nebula.
a) Nuclear fusion
b) Hydrogen
c) Gravity
d) Iron
11. The study of the origin, structure, and future of the universe is called _______
a) Expansion theory
b) Philosophy
c) Cosmology
d) Astronomy
12. Inner terrestrial planets are made of materials with high melting points such as ______
a) Silicates, iron, and nickel
b) Hydrogen and helium
c) Oxygen and carbon dioxide
d) All of the above
13. It states that the Sun and the planets were formed simultaneously.
a) Nebular theory
b) Protoplanet theory
c) Modern Laplacian Theory
d) Capture theory
14. Who proposed the Big Bang Theory?

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 a) Edwin Hubble
b) Michael Mark Woolfson,
c) George Lemaitre
d) Alastair G.W. Cameron
15. Who proposed the solar nebula theory?
a) Edwin Hubble
b) Michael Mark Woolfson,
c) George Lemaitre
d) Alastair G.W. Cameron

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 Additional Activities

Exercise
Answer the following questions thoroughly.
1. What is the red shift? What does it indicate?
2. What is the Hubble’s law? Why is it significant?
3. How does the big bang theory explain the origin of the universe?
4. Compare and contrast the different theories that explain the origin of the solar system.

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 Glossary

KEYWORDS:

COSMOLOGY- is a branch of astronomy concerned with the studies of the origin and
evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang to today and on into the future. It is the
scientific study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe.
NEBULA- is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space.
RED SHIFT-spectral shifts that move toward the red end of the spectrum, which occur when
a light-emitting objects moves away from the observer.
GALAXY- is a gravitationally bound system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust,
and dark matter. Collections of billions of stars.
BIG BANG-is the leading explanation about how the universe began.
PROTOPLANET-the rapid collision of matter within the cloud and masses coalesced in
different places that formed the Sun and the planets.
PROTOSTAR- a contracting mass of gas which represents an early stage in the formation of
a star, before nucleosynthesis has begun.

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 References

 Corazon N. Felicerta, Breaking Through Earth Science for Senior High School, 2017,
C & E Publishing, Inc., 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City
 Patricia B. Licuanan, Ph.D., Teaching Guide for Senior High School Earth Science,
2016, Commission on Higher Education, 4th Floor, Commission on Higher
Education, C.P. Garcia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City

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