The Cosmic Engine

Topic 1 Syllabus Dot Point Summary

Our sun Outline the historical Ancient Greeks (~300BC) Geocentric (Aristotle)
is just development of models of vs Heliocentric (Aristarchus), Ptolemy (2nd Century)
one star the universe from the geocentric
in the time of Aristotle to Copernicus (1473-1542) Heliocentric
galaxy Newton Brahe (1546-1601) plotted night sky, Heliocentric
and ours but Sun revolves around Earth
is just Kepler (1571-1630) mathematically defined orbits
of planets
one
Galileo (1564-1642) Heliocentric, developed
galaxy
telescope;
in the
Newton (1643-1727) mathematically defined
Universe gravity
Einstein (1879-1955) - planet orbits process, light
is affected by gravity, time is slower near larger
objects
Friedmann (1888-1925) - Big Crunch vs Steady
State Vs Constant expansion
Hubble (1889-1953) - measured speed that
galaxies are moving away from us

Topic 2 Syllabus Dot Point Summary

The Outline the discovery of By assuming that the universe appeared identical
first the expansion of the in all directions, observing from any point,
minutes universe by Hubble, Friedmann was able to prove that the universe
of the following its earlier was expanding.
universe prediction by Friedmann Hubble then proved this by observing the red-
released shift of distant galaxies.
energy He then derived an equation explaining this
which phenomenon, known as Hubbles law: v = H0D.
changed This showed that the furthest parts of the
matter, universe are expanding much faster than closer
forming parts
stars Describe the Initially, the energy was transformed into
and transformation of fundamental particles called leptons and quarks.
galaxies radiation into matter Quarks are the building blocks of protons and
which followed the Big neutrons, and leptons the building blocks of
Bang electrons.
Quarks combined to form protons and neutrons.
After approximately 300 000 years, universe
cooled sufficiently for the electrons to combine
with protons and neutrons to form atoms.
The atoms found in the young universe were
mainly hydrogen, helium and traces of lithium.
As the universe expanded and cooled, the
radiation filling the universe also cooled down

Identify that Einstein
described the
equivalence of energy
and mass
Outline how the
accretion of galaxies and
stars occurred through:
and still exists today (cosmic background
radiation)
Einstein discovered that energy and mass are
interchangeable
E=mc2, where E is energy, m is mass and c is
the speed of light
As the universe expands, it cools, as the
energy/heat must be distributed over a larger
area.
At this stage, the universe was essentially a
large cloud of ionised gas (plasma)
Eventually, it cooled enough (i.e. particles
slowed enough) for gravity to have a noticeable
effect, pulling particles together
Slowly, large lumps of matter formed as
gravity attracted particles together, collapsing
clouds of gas in on themselves

Topic 3 Syllabus Dot Point Summary

Stars have Define the relationship Any hot object radiates energy, typically in the
a limited between the form of heat and light, with increasing hotness
life span temperature of a body meaning more energy radiated.
and may and the dominant The energy is radiated at multiple wavelengths,
explode to wavelength of the but theres a peak wavelength that dominates
form radiation emitted from the radiated energy
supernovas that body

Identify that the surface
temperature of a star is
related to its colour
As seen above, the amount of energy being
radiated from a star (i.e. its temperature) is
related to the wavelength of the EMR its
emitting
For visible light, shorter wavelengths
correspond to colours such as blue and violet,
while longer wavelengths correspond to reds
and oranges.

Describe a HR diagram
as the graph of a stars
luminosity against its
colour or surface
temperature
As such, hotter stars are seen to be blue-violet
while cooler stars (such as our sun), appear red
to yellow.
Luminosity and Temperature of stars are
plotted against each other
Stars with specific characteristics can be
identified, and help astronomers understand
evolution of stars
Star temperatures decrease to the right
Radius of stars increase vertically for each
spectral class
Closer to the middle= longer life

Identify energy sources Main sequence stars are the most common
characteristic of each types of stars.
star group, including Main sequence stars produce energy through
main sequence, red the process of nuclear fusion of H to He in core
giants and white dwarfs Red giants are larger and cooler stars
Red giants produce energy through the process
of nuclear fusion of He to C in core, and H to
He fusion continuing in the shells.
The large size of the star gives it a high
luminosity and its low temperature is due to the
heat spreading out over a greater volume,
giving the star an overall lower temperature
White dwarfs are hotter and smaller
White dwarfs do not have any energy-
producing reactions occurring.
The small size of the star gives it a low
luminosity and the high temperature is due to
the closeness of the core of the star to its
surface
Topic 4 Syllabus Dot Point Summary
The sun is a Identify that energy Energy may be released from the nuclei of
typical star, may be released from atoms during nuclear fusion and nuclear fission
emitting the nuclei of atoms as radiation
electromagnetic Describe the nature of
radiation and emissions from the
particles that nuclei of atoms as
influence the radiation of alpha,
Earth beta, and gamma rays

Identify the nature of a range of electromagnetic radiation

emissions reaching the interplanetary magnetic field
earth from the sun solar wind - consisting of ionised particles
Describe the A stream of charged particles being
particulate nature of constantly released from the sun, composed
the solar wind of protons, neutrons, hydrogen, helium or
oxygen
Usually takes particles one to five days to
reach earth
Auroras occur when these charged particles
interact with Earths upper atmosphere.
This collision of plasma at the poles of the
Earth creates the aurora. Colour is
determined by wavelength
The Magnetic field protects us from the
solar wind

Outline the cyclic Sunspots are dark spots on the surface of

nature of sunspot the Sun, representing a region of intense
activity and its impact magnetic activity and low temperature
through solar winds The sun goes through an 11-year cycle of
high and low levels of sunspot activity.
There is also a periodic variation in solar
wind activity every 27 days (period of the
suns rotation)
The high speed charged particles reach the
Earth as powerful blasts of solar winds
known as a magnetic storm
Such blasts can damage satellites and its
communication
The blasts also affect the Earths magnetic
field; causing compasses to malfunction
and producing large induced current which
can disrupt the power grids on Earth
Describe sunspots as Sunspots are dark, cool areas on the Suns
representing regions of surface with a very powerful magnetic field
strong magnetic sunspots are locations of disturbances in the
activity and lower magnetic field lines within the surface of
temperature the Sun
The intense field activity within a sunspot
prevents the convection of heat to the
surface, thereby reducing its temperature