HSCE

-Astronomy
LEARNING TARGETS Study Guide Responses Location of
information
5.1 !escrie
"o# t"e $i% $an%
accounts for
formation of t"e
uni&erse
5.' d. !ifferentiate
The universe began as a
rapid expansion of energy
and matter from a small
compressed volume.
The Big Bang occurred 14 -
15 billion years ago.
As a result of the Big Bang,
protons, neutrons and
electrons oined to create
hydrogen.
The !ed "hift and #osmic
Bac$ground !adiation have
provided evidence that the
Big Bang occurred.
%hat is the Big Bang Theory& '1( A theory that explains the start of the
universe. All matter and energy )as compressed into a small space and expanded
out)ard due to an explosion.
*atter and energy )ere compressed prior to the Big Bang, %hat is believed to
have happened to the matter and energy at the time of the Big Bang& '+(
An explosion caused the matter and energy to spread out throughout the universe.
This includes dar$ matter and energy.
"cientists believe that the Big Bang too$ place approximately, '-(
.approximately 14 billion years ago 'scientists estimated 1+-1/ billion years
ago(........................................................
The universe contains mostly hydrogen and helium. This is evidence that the Big
Bang occurred. T)o more discoveries have given scientists evidence that the Big
Bang occurred. %hat are the discoveries& '0(
#osmic Bac$ground !adiation '#*B(-#osmic *icro)ave Bac$ground !adiation
!ed "hift of the 1alaxies 'stars(- #aused by the 2oppler effect )hich means
obects that are moving a)ay cause the visible light spectrum to shift to)ard the
red area3longer )avelengths.
As a result of the Big Bang, this element formed and is the most abundant in the
universe& '4(
Hydrogen is the most abundant element. Hydrogen is
found in all brand new stars (main sequence stars). Stars
like the sun use fusion to create Helium

Astronomy Learning Targets and Study Guide
2012-2013
et#een
cosmo(o%ica( and
!opp(er Red S"ift
5.' c. E)p(ain "o#
oser&ations of t"e
cosmic
ac*%round
radiation "e(ped
determine t"e a%e
of t"e uni&erse
5.1A !escrie t"e
The red shift effect from the
galaxies provides evidence
that the Big Bang occurred.
1alaxies that are moving
a)ay from the 5arth
produce a red shift in the
spectra of light. This proves
that galaxies are continuing
to expand out from the Big
Bang.
#osmic *icro)ave
Bac$ground radiation
'#*B( provides evidence
that the Big Bang occurred
#osmic *icro)ave
Bac$ground !adiation is
remnant heat left over from
the Big Bang.
#*B radiation is evenly
distributed throughout the
universe.
#*B radiation )as hot at
the time of the Big Bang
and has cooled to +.4
degrees 6elvin. '-+47
o
#(
%avelengths of radiation
have increased since the
Big Bang.
8o) does the discovery of the red shift in the spectra of light from galaxies
provide evidence about of the Big Bang& '4(
Red Shift was discovered by Hubble. The red shift occurs
due to the Doler e!ect causing the sectrum roduced
by the star in the universe to move (shift) toward the red
end (longer wavelength) of the visible sectrum. This
occurs because as the ob"ect moves away and the waves
are stretched causing longer wavelengths.
8o) has electromagnetic radiation changed since the Big Bang& '5(
9riginally it )as very hot but has since cooled to a very very lo) temperature
'approximately absolute :ero(. ;t has cooled due to the universe expanding and
time. #*B is the fingerprint of the Big Bang because it happened3developed
very soon after the Big Bang occurred.
'A data chart )ill presented on the assessment for students to demonstrate an
understanding of the cooling of #osmic *icro)ave Bac$ground !adiation( '/(
#eed to understand the relationshi between the
temerature and time since the big bang.
position and
motion of our
so(ar system in our
%a(a)y and t"e
o&era(( sca(e+
structure and a%e
of t"e uni&erse.
9ur universe is made up of
stars in galaxies, dar$
matter and dar$ energy.
1alaxies are a collection of
millions of stars arranged in
different shapes.
9ur galaxy is a spiral
galaxy called the *il$y
%ay.
The *il$y %ay galaxy )as
formed 1+ billion years
ago.
9ur solar system is located
on the 9rion arm in the
*il$y %ay 1alaxy.
"tars in galaxies ma$e up about 4< of the universe. The universe mostly is
mostly made up of ..2ar$ *atter and 2ar$ 5nergy
...................................................& '=(
%hat are the shapes of the galaxies& '1/(
5lliptical, spiral 'barred spiral( and irregular
The *il$y %ay galaxy is )hat type of a galaxy& '14(
"piral 1alaxy
9ur solar system is located on )hich arm of the *il$y %ay 1alaxy& '15(
9rion Arm
8o) many light years is our solar system from the center bulge of the galaxy&
'17(
Diameter of our gala$y is %&&'&&& light years
Radius is (&'&&& light years
)ur Solar System is about *&'&&& light years away from the
center.
5.' ! !escrie
"o# nuc(ear fusion
and ot"er
processes in stars
(ed to t"e
formation of a(( of
t"e ot"er c"emica(
e(ements.
5.' C !escrie
"o# nuc(ear fusion
produces ener%y
on t"e sun
A nuclear fusion reaction
causes the nuclei of an
atom to gain more protons
and release energy.
>uclear fusion reactions
occur in the core of stars
)here hydrogen is fused
into helium. This reaction
causes the release of heat
and light.
>uclear fusion reactions
occur )hen stars collide or
become supernovas. These
reactions create larger,
heavier nuclei of all the
chemical elements.
%hat is happens to the nucleus of an atom during nuclear fusion& '14(
The nucleus of a single atom oins )ith the nucleus of another atom. They form a
ne) larger nucleus. 2uring this process )hen the nuclei fuse energy is given off
in the form of a gamma ray.
%hat chemical element forms )hen hydrogen is fused in the "un?s core& '1-(
8elium forms. This is the process that is happening in all main se@uence stars.
%hy does hydrogen fuse in the star?s core and not on the surface of the star& '1=(
The surface of sun does not contain the conditions necessary for fusion to ta$e
place. ;t is too cold and there is not enough pressure. "ince the core is extremely
hot and has a high pressure the conditions allo) for the fusion of elements.
%hat is released during nuclear fusion& '+7(
5nergy in the form of a gamma ray
5xplain ho) nuclear fusion creates larger elements& '+4(
;t creates larger elements because the nucleus of atoms are combining. "maller
atoms oin together to form larger atoms. Aor example + 8 atoms combine to
form 8e. 2ue to the increased number of protons the element changes and the
proton containing nucleus gets larger.

Bse the Ceriodic Table of 5lements sho)ing the processes that produced the
elements to prepare these next @uestions,
%hat is stellar activity is responsible for the formation of most of the
chemical elements that are heavier than iron 'Ae+/(& '+1-+0(
*aority are from "upernovae '"upernova(
%hat elements )ere formed from the small stars& '+1-+0(
+i' ,' #' #b' -o' Ti' Ru' .d' ,d' /n' Sn' 0a' +a' Hf' Ta' 1' Hg'
Tl' .b' 0i' ,e' .r' #d' Sm' 2b
All stars and star systems 'including our solar system( began to form in a Dstar
nurseryD called a,
.....>ebula...................................... '+5(
5., A E)p(ain "o#
t"e so(ar system
formed from a
neu(a of dust and
%as in a spira( arm
of t"e -i(*y .ay
aout /.0 Ga
1i((ion years a%o2
9ur solar system formed
from a nebula of dust and
gas.
After a shoc$ )ave hit the
nebula, gravity caused the
sun to form at the center of
the nebula.
The sun began )hen
hydrogen began to fuse into
helium.
Clanets formed from the
gravitation attraction and
collisions that occur in the
s)irling gases of the nebula
8o) did the planets of our solar system form& '+/-+4(
Arom clouds of dust and gas
8o) long ago did our solar system form& '+-(
4./ billion years ago '5 BEA(
2id the planets form before, after or at the same time as the formation of the sun&
'+=(
They formed at the same time.
5.' f E)p(ain "o#
you can infer t"e
temperature+ (ife
span and mass of a
star from its co(or.
3se t"e H-R
dia%ram to e)p(ain
t"e (ife cyc(e of
stars.
"tars have a life cycle
moving from birth through
death.
"tars have different masses,
si:es, life spans,
temperatures and color.
The 8ert:sprung-!ussell
'8-!( diagram is used to
relate stars temperature,
color, luminosity,
magnitude, si:e and life
cycle.
%hat are the life style stages for a medium star& '0/-0=(
Crotostar, *ain "e@uence "tar, !ed 1iant, Clanetary >ebula, %hite 2)arf
%hat are the life style stages for a massive star& '0/-0=(
Crotostar, *assive *ain "e@uence "tar 'Blue 1iant(, !ed "upergiant, "upernova,
>eutron "tar or Blac$ 8ole.
%hat type of star )ould become a supernova& '0/-0=(
Fery *assive "tar-Blue 1iant
Bse the 8-! diagram to ans)er these @uestions,
%hat is the labeling of the x-axis& #olor3"pectral #lass3Temperature
9f the y-axis& Guminosity3Absolute *agnitude
%hat is luminosity& The total amount of energy a star gives off per
second.
%hat is magnitude& The brightness a star has at an e@ual distance from
earth )hen compared to other stars at the same distance
%hat is spectral class& The spectral class is a letter assigned to a certain
color of star on the 8! 2iagram.

%hat is temperature& ;t is ho) hot the star is, ;t affects the color.
%hat is happening )hen a star is in the main se@uence stage& '01(
A main se@uence star is fusing 8ydrogen to 8elium.

"olar activities include
#ompare a star in the )hite d)arf stage to our sun. '04(
%hen a star becomes a )hite d)arf it is no longer fusing
8ydrogen into 8elium. Because our sun is still fusing 8ydrogen it is considered
younger than a )hite d)arf.
2escribe )hat stage of the life cycle are these stars& '0/-0=(
Aldebaran-!ed 1iant

Alpha #entauri- *ain "e@uence
Crocyon- %hite 2)arf
*inta$a- Blue 1iant still a main se@uence star

5.' $ Re(ate e&ents
on t"e sun to
p"enomena suc"
as auroras+
disruption of radio
and sate((ite
communications
and po#er
disturances.
sunspots, prominences,
solar flares and #oronal
*ass 5ections.
"olar activities occur
because of changes in the
sun?s magnetic field.
"unspots are dar$ areas on
the sun?s surface that are
cooler than the sun but
cause the sun?s temperature
to increase.
#oronal *ass 5ections are
solar particles that escape
from the sun?s corona,
travel through space as a
solar )ind.
#oronal *ass 5ections
2escribe a sunspot. '40(
2ar$ spots on the sun that is cooler than that of the photosphere.
8o) long does a sunspot cycle last& '44(
About every 11 years
2escribe a solar flare. '45(
5xplosive release of energy from a sunspot
Bse the sun spot graph to ans)er the follo)ing @uestions, '47-4+(
%hat is the period of time )here there )ere the least amount of
sunspots& %hat on the charts sho)s a lo)& 'Trough3lo) numbers(-
"olar *inimum
%hat )as the approximate date for the most amount of sunspots
ever recorded& %hat on the charts sho)s a high& '#rests or Cea$s(-
"olar *aximums
%hat has been the trend of the most number of sunspots over the
past 57 years& "olar *aximum is 1oing do)n
#oronal *ass 5ections are solar particles eected from )hat part of the sun& '4/(
#*5 come from the corona
'#*5?s( enter 5arth?s
magnetosphere and affect
radio communication,
5arth?s satellites, and can
cause po)er disturbances.
#oronal *ass 5ections
'#*5?s( also create auroras
at the 5arth?s poles.
The #*5?s enter the 5arth?s magnetosphere and cause )hat types of disruptions&
'44(
They can cause po)er outages, disrupt satellites, and interfere )ith
communication 'example planes going over the poles(
8o) are aurora?s created& '4-(
"olar flare hitting the earthHs magnetic fields in the atmosphere causes lights to
radiate from the s$ies. This is caused because the energy is transferred into
particles causing them to be excited and glo).
8o) are sunspots and auroras related& '4-(
Sunsots cause solar 3ares which if they hit the earth
cause the auroras to occur.