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Assignment 1

The document discusses events from the Big Bang to the formation of the Earth, including the creation of light, the age of re-ionization, and the birth of the solar system. It then describes the geological time scale and how rocks from different periods like granite, limestone, chalk, and clay are important for civil engineering.

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Solomon Mehari
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39 views

Assignment 1

The document discusses events from the Big Bang to the formation of the Earth, including the creation of light, the age of re-ionization, and the birth of the solar system. It then describes the geological time scale and how rocks from different periods like granite, limestone, chalk, and clay are important for civil engineering.

Uploaded by

Solomon Mehari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Engineering Geology Assignment 1 Solomon Mehari (ATE/9459/11)

Events from the big bang to creation of the earth relevant to formation of earth
1. The Big Bang
The Big Bang was not an explosion in space, as the theory's name might suggest. Instead, it was
the appearance of space everywhere in the universe, researchers have said. According to the Big
Bang theory, the universe was born as a very hot, very dense, single point in space.

2. The Universe’s First Growth Spurt


When the universe was very young, it underwent an incredible growth spurt. During this burst of
expansion, which is known as inflation, the universe grew exponentially and doubled in size at
least 90 times. As space expanded, the universe cooled and matter formed.

3. Creation of Light
About 380,000 years after the Big Bang, matter cooled enough for electrons to combine with nuclei
to form neutral atoms. This phase is known as "recombination," and the absorption of free electrons
caused the universe to become transparent. The light that was unleashed at this time is detectable
today in the form of radiation from the cosmic microwave background. Yet, the era of
recombination was followed by a period of darkness before stars and other bright objects were
formed.

4. Age of Re-Ionization
Roughly 400 million years after the Big Bang, the universe began to come out of its dark ages.
This dynamic phase was thought to have lasted more than a half-billion years, but based on new
observations, scientists think re-ionization may have occurred more rapidly than previously
thought.
5. Birth of the Solar System
Our solar system is estimated to have been born a little after 9 billion years after the Big Bang,
making it about 4.6 billion years old. According to current estimates, the sun is one of more than
100 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone, and orbits roughly 25,000 light-years from the
galactic core.
6. The Expanding Universe
In the 1920s, astronomer Edwin Hubble made a revolutionary discovery about the universe. Using
a newly constructed telescope at the Mount Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles, Hubble observed
that the universe is not static, but rather is expanding.

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Engineering Geology Assignment 1 Solomon Mehari (ATE/9459/11)

The Geologic Time Scale


Geological time refers to the time of the physical formation and development of the Earth
(especially prior to human history). Geologic time also applies to the age and history of the
Universe. Geologists have subdivided periods in Earth's history is measured periods spanning
millions or billions of years. The Geologic Time Scale has been established to name segments of
time periods to help define the chronology of events (such as mountain range formation), the
formation of rock units (such as the age of a lava flow), the age of fossils, organizing geologic map
units, and other purposes.

By noting the relationships of different rock units, Nicolaus Steno in 1669 described two basic
geologic principles. The first stated that sedimentary rocks are laid down in a horizontal manner,
and the second stated that younger rock units were deposited on top of older rock units. To envision
this latter principle think of the layers of paint on a wall. The oldest layer was put on first and is at
the bottom, while the newest layer is at the top.

While time is often measured in hours and minutes, to geologists, time relating to rocks is measured
in 100s and 1000s of years. This time is divided into eras and periods which is the formation of
the geological timescale (GTS) which relates to events, such as mountain building, atmospheric
changes or widespread sea level change, that have happened in the Earth's history. The most recent
period is known as the Quaternary period in which the Ice Age occurred. For example, the Central
Afar is occupied by the 4–1 Ma Afar stratoid volcanics and Quaternary graben filling sediments.

Important Rocks and Their Time Period (relation of GTS to civil engineering)
 Granite is from the Permian Period. It is a hard, igneous rock, made up of quartz, feldspar
and mica.
 Carboniferous Limestone is from the Carboniferous period. It is a sedimentary rock made
of calcium carbonate. It reacts with the acids in rainwater and dissolves to form distinctive
scenery such as limestone pavement, caves and gorges.
 Chalk is from the Cretaceous period. It is also a sedimentary rock made of calcium
carbonate. It is porous, so water can penetrate it. It is eroded by solution.
 Clay is from the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. It is a sedimentary rock made
of tiny particles of weathered rocks and minerals.

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