Earth and Space Sciences
The Universe - Size
Year 10
Earth and Space sciences: The universe contains features including galaxies, stars and solar systems and the
Big Bang theory can be used to explain the origin the universe (ACSSU188)
Science as Human Endeavour
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Scientific models, theories, processes, applications (ACSHE157). Technological advances through science (ACSHE158)
Use of science in improving people’s lives, generating new careers, and meeting societal needs. (ACSHE161)
Use science to evaluate claims or predictions (ACSHE160)
Values of society influence research (ACSHE228)
Scientific Inquiry Processes
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Formulate questions or hypotheses to investigate. (ACSIS164)
Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods e.g. field and laboratory work. (ACSIS165)
Select and use appropriate equipment, to systematically collect and record data (ACSIS166)
Analyse patterns and trends in processing data e.g. relationships between variables (ACSIS169)
Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS170)
Evaluate conclusions, including possible alternative explanations. (ACSIS171)
Critically analyse the validity of information in secondary sources and evaluate the approaches used to solve problems (ACSIS172)
 Communicate scientific ideas and information, including using appropriate scientific language. (ACSIS174)
Knowledge and Understandings
How Big is the Universe?
The Size of the Universe
The universe is so big that we
have to uses a distance measure
called a light year. This is the
distance that light travels in one
year.
The closest star Proxima
Centauri, is 4.3 light years away
and the Milky Way is
approximately 100 000 light years
across.
Closest galaxy to us is the
Magellanic Cloud at 150 000 light
yeas away.
We can measure the distance of
stars using the parallax method.
This method uses the apparent
shift in a starts position in the sky
at opposite sides of the Earth's
orbit around the Sun to determine
a parallax angle. This with the
knowledge of the radius of the
Earth's orbit allows the distance
to be calculated.
The solar system is much larger
than the Earth but not so large
that we need to talk in light years.
Instead we us the astronomical
unit (AU). One AU is equal to the
average radius of the Earth's orbit
around the Sun i.e. 149 600 000
Learning Program
How Big is the Universe?
Purpose: Students develop some appreciation for the size of the Solar
System, Milky Way and Universe and understand common units of
measuring such large length scales.
Inform – Motivation: What is the fastest speed that you have travelled at?
How does this compare to the speed of light which is 300 000 km per
second? At this speed calculate how far would light travel in one year?
Why is the light year used as a distance unit when we are talking about
distances in the universe? What is the closest star to Earth? How long
would it take light to travel to this star? If your spacecraft travelled at 35 000
km per hour, how long would it take you to reach this star?
Compare the size of the solar system to the size of one light year. How
many of our solar systems would fit along the length of one light year?
Time Travel to the Edge of the Universe and Back!
Students analyse the size of the universe and calculate the time to travel to
near and distant destinations.
Investigate: Create a length-scale diagram using pictures to show objects
that are of a similar to 1 meter, 10 meters, 100 meters and so on. What is
the largest length scale you can find a measure for e.g. the distance
between galaxies. It may be necessary to introduce or revise the idea of
orders of magnitude and powers of 10. You may also like to introduce the
term ‘of the order of’ i.e. approximately the same size within one order of
magnitude.
Apply: Carry out the activity on page 13 in Science Outcomes Book 3, to
model the parallax method used to measure the distance to the stars. See
also:
http://eaae-astronomy.org/WG3-SS/WorkShops/Triangulation.html
http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Lparalax.htm
http://www.coe.ou.edu/ata/ATA/K12%20Lessons/Norman%20North%20High%20School/Parallax%20Lesson.
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This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
kilometres.
pdf
One astronomical unit is equal to the average radius of the Earth's orbit
around the Sun. One astronomical unit (AU) equals 149 600 000 kilometres.
Why is the average radius of the Earth's orbit used for this unit? How far is
the most distant planet from the Sun in AU and kilometres?
Summary questions 1, 2, 4, 5, Interpretation question 1, Thinking About
questions 1-3, Investigating questions 1, 3, 4, page 13 Science Outcomes
Book 3.
Evaluate – Generalise: Constructing a telescope: Retort stand, tow
clamps and boss heads, convex lens of focal length 10 cm, convex lens of
focal length 30 cm.
Procedure:
 Place one clamp at the base of the retort stand with the jaws pointing
in the opposite direction to the base of the stand.
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Place the other clamp about 35 cm along the stand.
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Clamp the 10 cm focal length lens at the top of the stand to serve as
the eyepiece.
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Clamp the other lens to act as the objective in the lower clamp.
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Adjust the eye piece lens to obtain a clear focus of an object across
the other side of the room.
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Focus on an object across the room. Describe the difference between
what you saw without the telescope and what you saw with the
telescope.
Questions:
1. What does a telescope do to an object? (Magnifies, resolves, gathers
light from the object).
2. Explain the term ‘resolution’.
3. How could you improve: the magnification of your telescope?
(increase the magnification of the eyepiece lens)
4. The resolution? ( increase the quality of the lens)
5. The light gathering? (increase the diameter of the lens)
6. Examine a modern telescope. Can you locate the eyepiece lens and
objective lens?
Assessment:
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Create a length-scale diagram to show the relative sizes of very large objects and distances.
Use the parallax method to measure distances.
Follow a procedure to build a telescope.
Standards
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Science/Curriculum/F-10?y=10&s=SU&s=HE&s=IS&layout=1
Teacher Resources IWB T
Black Holes & Neutron Stars Interesting interactive info site with descriptions and MPEG movies that take the
user on virtual journeys to black holes and neutron stars.
Windows to the Universe teacher resources, links, student activities and interactives.
Student Resources IWB S
How Big Is Space? (Interactive information site)
Yahoo Kids! Solar System Large menu of ‘Solar System’ related information and resources
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
The Structure of the Universe: Article explaining the different parts of the universe.
No Edge, No Centre: Exploring the Shape of Our Universe: Students examine various "spaces" (including ones
that are one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional). For each space, they will examine what it
means to have or not have an edge, or to be finite or infinite.
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
Lesson Planner
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Student Activities
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© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au