| Essential Knowledge and Skills |
Related SOL |
| Students should be able to: |
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| Recognize that the Big Bang Theory states that the universe began as a dense sphere that expanded and eventually condensed into galaxies. |
ES.14 e
ES.1e
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| Recognize that the solar nebular theory explains that the planets formed through condensing of the solar nebula. |
ES.14 e
ES.2 a, b, c, d
|
Discuss the evidence for the origin of the universe and origin of the solar system respectively. |
ES.14 a
ES.2 a, b, c, d
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Understand that
- stars have a finite lifetime and evolve over time;
- the mass of a star controls its evolution, length of its lifetime, and ultimate fate, as shown by the Hertsprung-Russell diagram;
- stars form by condensation of interstellar gas;
- galaxies are collections of large numbers (billions) of stars.
|
ES.14 b, c |
Identify the basic types of galaxies as spiral, elliptical, and irregular. |
ES.14 d |
Identify the basic types of galaxies as spiral, elliptical, and irregular.
|
ES.14 b |
Define a light year as the distance light travels in one year. It is the most commonly used measurement for distance in astronomy
|
ES.14 d |
| Identify and classify the following celestial bodies in the Milky Way Galaxy (sun, planets and their moons, comets, meteors, and asteroids). |
ES.14 a, b, c, d, e
ES.4 a, c
|
| Describe the sun as a star that consists largely of hydrogen gas. Its energy comes from nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium. |
ES.14 b, c |
Recognize that
- the Earth is the third planet from the sun;
- the four inner (terrestrial) planets consist mostly of solid rock;
- four of the outer planets are gas giants, consisting of thick outer layers of gaseous materials, perhaps with a small rocky core;
- the fifth outer planet, Pluto, has an unknown composition, and appears solid.
|
ES.14 a
ES.4 c
|
| Draw a diagram of the solar system and label the planets. |
ES.4 c, d |
Name the characteristics of celestial bodies:
- Moons are natural satellites of planets that vary widely in composition.
- Comets orbit the sun and consist mostly of frozen gases.
- Asteroids are rocky or metallic iron objects ranging in size from millimeters to kilometers. They are the source of most meteorites.
|
ES.4 c, d |
Recognize the following ways the Earth’s atmosphere has changed due to human, biologic, or geological activity:
- Human activities have increased the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere.
- Man-made chemicals have decreased the ozone concentration in the upper atmosphere.
- Volcanic activity and meteorite impacts can inject large quantities of dust and gases into the atmosphere.
|
ES.12 d, e |
Compare the Earth’s atmosphere to that of
- the atmosphere of Venus, which is mostly carbon dioxide and very dense;
- the atmosphere of Mars, which is very thin and mostly carbon dioxide.
|
ES.4 c |
Relate that much of our knowledge about the solar system is a result of space exploration efforts. These efforts continue to improve our understanding of the solar system.
|
ES.4 d |
Summarize important space research information, including
- much of our information about our galaxy and the universe comes from ground-based observations as well as information derived from utilizing the electromagnetic spectrum;
- the Hubble Space telescope has greatly improved our understanding of the universe;
- Apollo 11 was the first manned landing on the moon.
|
ES.4 d |
