Origins of the Universe

Watch the video segments found at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/program-3114.html as a class on the video projector.

As you do that, you need to answer the following Questions

After Segment 1:

What is the difference between the steady state theory and the big bang theory?
What did Robert Wilson and Arnio Penzias do?
How did Robert Wilson feel when compared to Einstein?
What do we call the radiation they discovered?

After Segment 2:

What is COBE and what does it study?

After Segment 3:

How is CBI different than WMAP?
What problems did the astronomers have with the equipment?
What successes did they have?

After Segment 4:

What will happen to the blotchy dense microwave parts shown in the videos?


After Segment 5:

Why can't you make an element higher than iron in a star?
How do we get the elements that are heavier than that one?
Why do we say humans are made of stardust?

After Segment 6:

How do light waves tell us about the properties of elements?
Is their life out there?


When you get done, you need to hand in the answers to your questions, and go to the Origins website to take a look at the Drake equation and the Alien arguments that are pro and con. You will be asked to defend your ideas on life in the universe later.

ALL STUDENTS NEED TO PRINT OFF THE FRONT PAGE OF THEIR BLOG (file--print--page 1) and hand in at this time before leaving class.