INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

AlimannaoHills, Peñablanca/Atulayan Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Email address: isaphsdept@isap.edu.ph / isaptuguegaraocitygmail.com| contact number: 0936-193-1278
Learning Area Earth Science Year Level STEM 11 E

Subject Teacher Jomar Bierzo No. of Hours: 4 Hours

Learning At the end of the lesson the students should be able to:
Objectives a. describe the different hypotheses explaining the origin of the
universe and the solar system;
b. describe the various unique characteristics of the Earth; and
c. state the importance of the various characteristics of the Earth in
supporting life.
CHAPTER 1: ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH
Lesson 1: FORMATION OF THE UNIVERSE

A. Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory remains to be stopped to be prevailing cosmological model for the early
development of the universe. It provides the best explanation and is implicitly accepted. The past,
astronomers have based their new findings on the beginning of the universe through cosmic
microwave background (CMB). It is a thermal radiation used in observational cosmology because it
is considered the oldest light in the universe. CMB can be detected as a glow which is believed to
be a remnant from an early stage of the development of the universe.
Some scientist speculated through CMB evidence that when the universe was young, before
the stars and planets even existed, the universe was denser and hotter (at around 5.5 billion
degrees Celsius) and filled with uniform glow from a white fog of hydrogen plasma. The universe
also contained basic particles of neutrons, electrons, and proton. Then, the space expanded and
cooled because of the expansion. When the universe got cooler, the neutron, electron, and proton
particles decayed and combined. Over time, those particles created neutral atoms which allowed
light to shine through. The light is the CMB, also referred to as “afterglow” of the big bang. The
CMB was believed to have been released 380 000 years after the big bang. The clumping of
particles, later on, formed the stars and the galaxies that we have now. The CMB is also used to
study the composition and age of the universe.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimage/wallpaper/PIA10237-800x600.jpg
Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 3-4
 B. Cosmic Inflation Theory
The most recent cosmic inflation theory is proposed by physicists Alan Guth and Andrei
Linde in the 1980s. According to the cosmic inflation theory of Guth and Linde, the early universe
went under rapid expansion in space-time. The theory states that the early universe was a rapidly
expanding bubble of pure vacuum energy. It did not have any matter or radiation. After the
expansion and cooling due to the inflation, the potential energy was converted into kinetic energy
of any matter and radiation. Then the big bang occurred because of the extremely hot dense
condition of the matter. Second after the explosion, matter began to clump together. Eventually,
stars were formed, and then galaxies. The universe continued to expand up to the present time.
The cosmic inflation theory became an accepted hypothesis because it answered many
puzzles that arose in the big bang theory. One of which is the homogeneity of the objects in
space. During the expansion period, objects that used to be in contact or neighboring objects got
farther away from each other. Their composition however, remained almost intact. This explains
further why the opposite horizon of the universe appears to be similar. Another is the appearance
of flatness and smoothness of the universe. The continuous expansion “dilutes” or gradually loses
the curvature of the objects. A simple way to illustrating this is to inflate a balloon with small
bumps. As you inflate the balloon continuously, its surface reaches a point of flatness where the
small bumps could not be recognized anymore. This similar idea accounts for the approximate
flatness (lack of curvature) look in the space-time of the universe. The theory asserts that during
the expansion, small density fluctuations happen. This causes gravity to attract gas into masses,
giving birth to stars and eventually galaxies. This also explains why the universe would always look
full of planetary objects instead of completely empty.

http://hetdex.org/dark_energy/
Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 5

C. Steady State Theory

The steady state theory states that the universe is always expanding. It also states that new
matter is constantly formed as the universe continues to expand. The older bodies eventually
became out of sight as a consequence of their increasing distance and rate of recession. This
theory further claims that the universe has no beginning or end in time, and even though it is
expanding, its appearance remains the same over time.
This theory was first proposed by Sir James Jeans in 1920. It gained popularity after it was
revised by Sir Fred Hoyle, Sir Hermann Bondi and Thomas Gold in 1948 as an alternative to the big
bang theory. However, toward the middle of 1960s, evidence that would contradict the steadiness
or the unchanging state of the universe were brought out. One of the pieces of evidence was
when galactic bodies such as quasars and radio galaxies were found a long way from the sun at
far distance in space (and found none nearby); it disproved the idea that similar bodies are
created and found everywhere. Hence, distant objects in space are considered ancient and the
younger universes are found nearer.
 http://

cosmictimes.gcfc.nasa.gov/online_edition1955/origin.html

Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 4-7

Teacher’s Insight
Since we do not know how the universe created, there are theories that explained
how the universe began. There 3 major theories about the origin of the universe.
These theories are: The big bang theory, cosmic inflation theory and steady state
theory. Big Bang theory state that universe began from incredibly hot matter with
dense point roughly 13.7 years ago. The cosmic inflation theory proposes that
universe is extremely expanding during its first few moments. The steady state
theory view that the universe is always expanding but maintaining a constant
average density. Among the three theories of the universe the big bang theory is
widely accepted theory.

Lesson 2: FORMATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Solar System is a type of star system because the sun is a star.
Nebular Hypothesis
The nebular hypothesis seems to be the most accepted theory based on the consistency of
its premises to current observations. It was developed by Immanuel Kant and Pierre-Simon
Laplace in the 18 centuries. It presupposes that around 4.5 billion years ago, a star system was
formed from a rotating cloud of gas – or nebula – of extremely hot gas. When the gas cooled, the
nebula began to shrink, and as it became smaller, it rotated faster, casting off rings of gas and
forming a disk-like shape. The centrifugal force from the nebula’s rotation and the gravitational
force from the mass of the nebula formed the rings of gas outside. As the nebula continued to
shrink, these rings condensed into various densities of planet and their satellites. The remaining
part of the nebula,
which has the most
mass, formed the sun.
 http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/N/nebhypoth.htm

Planetesimal Theory
The planetesimal theory describes the formation of the planets as asserted in the nebular
hypothesis. Proposed by Viktor S. Safronov in 1941 and developed by T. C. and F.R. Moulton, the
theory states that in the early period of the solar systems, planets were formed from the accretion
of small space bodies. The gravity of the space bodies attracted space objects until the effect of
their gravity was reduced due to the accretion which also increased the size of the planetesimals.

Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 8-9

Tidal Theory
The tidal theory was developed by James Jeans and Sir Harold Jeffreys in 1917. According
to the theory, a star passed close to the sun where the tidal force or the secondary effect of
gravitational pull between the passing star and the sun drew large amounts of matter out of the
sun and the passing star. Some of the drawn-out matter quickly cooled to become solid bodies
called planetesimal. Other grew in size because of colliding and sticking together with passing
objects in space, eventually forming larger clumps and gathering more and more matter.
There are four smaller inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are called “terrestrial” or
“telluric” planets. They have developed other materials such as silicate rocks that now make up
their internal structure. Earth is one of the inner planet and as such, it would have the same
parent materials as the other “terrestrial” planets.
There are outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are called “gas planets”
because they are made up of just primary materials that make up the sun, which are helium and
hydrogen. Since they are made up of gas, it is quite impossible to walk on them. These giant gas
planets are believed to have remained gaseous in nature because of their far distance from the
sun. The lower temperature, known to be beyond the “frost line”, allowed for the condensation of
gas, forming a less dense huge planet.
 http://media.web.britanica.com/eb-media/93/95393-004-B557150A.jpg
Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 10

Teacher’s Insight
Like the universe we also do not have any idea how the solar system created.
Lesson
There are also theories that explained the formation of the solar system. The nebular
3: THE
hypothesis presupposes that around 4.5 billion years ago stellar system was formed
from a rotating cloud of gas or nebula of extremely hot gas. Planetesimal theory
described the formation of planets in the nebular hypothesis. Tidal theory view that, a
star passed close to the sun where tidal force of secondary affect gravitational pull
between the passing star and sun drew large amount of matter out of the sun and the
passing star. The nebular Hypothesis seems to be the most accepted theory based on
consistency of its premises to current observation.

BEGINNINGS OF EARTH
Earth is the third planet from the sun in the solar system and scientists estimate that the
planet is about 4.5 billion years old. The theory of the nebular hypothesis states that Earth, just
like the other planets that moved out of the solar nebula, started out as an immensely hot gaseous
mass.
Some scientists even speculate that a large collision caused its present tilt. The primitive
volcanoes would continuously and randomly erupt. At the same time, flying planetary debris and
other masses passed into Earth’s orbit and crashed on its surface. These events continued while
Earth was spinning, and they contributed to the present shape of the planet, which is an oblate
spheroid. Over time, the planet cooled and formed a solid crust. The denser materials later on
sank to the core. Volcanic outgassing continued to form steam and, eventually, rain. The lower
elevations or low-lying surface of Earth collected water and eventually formed ocean basins.

Uniqueness of Earth
Several factors necessary to support and sustain life are found on Earth. One of the factors that
can sustain life is water which in its liquid form is vital for DNA and protein to swim around and
interact with the environment to carry out reactions needed for life. Other planets, because of
their distance from the sun, have temperatures that do not allow water to be in liquid form.
Hence, water that remains in solid form (ice) may not be able to dissolve many substances needed
for chemical reactions that make life possible. Astronomers often focus on habitable zones of stars,
also called the Goldilocks zone (orbits of planets that neither too hot nor too cold for life to exist),
to search for extraterrestrial life. Earth’s position is right exactly on the habitable zone of the sun.
The present location of Mars (too cold) and Venus (too hot) lie outside this zone.
Earth is unique – it is living planet and where energy flows continuously within its
system. Earth depends on the light energy from its star, the sun, which is considered to be
the ultimate source of energy. Within Earth, energy also circulates to be made available and
accessible to all life-forms. The different forms of energy also allows for recycling of
molecules and nutrients
Teacher’s needed for life.
Insight
Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 12
Earth formed around 4.5 billion years ago, approximately one-third the age of
the universe, by accretion from the solar nebula. Volcanic outgassing probably
created the primodial atmosphere and the ocean. The early atmosphere contained
almost no oxygen. The large collision of heavenly bodies caused the earth’s present
tilt. Earth is a unique planet because it can sustain life.
References:
 http://media.web.britanica.com/eb-media/93/95393-004-B557150A.jpg
 http://hetdex.org/dark_energy/
 http://cosmictimes.gcfc.nasa.gov/online_edition1955/origin.html
 http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/N/nebhypoth.htm
 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimage/wallpaper/PIA10237-800x600.jpg
 Earth Science, Mylene D.G. Oliva.DIWA, pp 3-12
 SHS ILG pp. 1-14