Doc Brown's GCSE OCR Gateway Science-Physics Revision Notes

OCR GCSE Gateway Science Physics Module P2 Living For The Future (Energy Resources)

Unit-Items P2h The Big Bang

1. Appreciate there are a number of theories about how the Universe was formed and how it will continue to evolve.

2. This unit develops ideas about the evolution of the Universe and its possible future including the Big Bang theory.

3. Some of your research, class discussions, experiments, demonstrations etc. may have included:

   • a) exploring examples of the Doppler effect eg passing police siren, whirling a buzzer round on a string,

   • b) researching Doppler simulations on PowerPoint,

   • c) building a model of the expanding Universe with a balloon to show that spots on the surface are moving faster and further away from each other as the balloon is inflated,

   • d) draw a time line for the age of the Universe,

   • e) discussed ideas about the origin of the Universe,

   • f) discussed ideas about the birth and death of stars,

   • g) researched evidence for the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way,

   • h) researched and debated different models (scientific and non-scientific) which attempt to explain the start of the Universe.

   • The Big Bang Theory of the Universe and the red-shift

4. Be able to describe some ideas about the Big Bang theory for the origin of the Universe:

   • a) started with an explosion

   • b) the Universe is still expanding.

5. Know that stars:

   • a) have a finite ‘life’,

   • b) start as a huge gas cloud,

   • c) are different sizes.

6. Understand why not even light can escape from black holes.

7. Appreciate that the accepted models of the size and shape of the Universe have changed over time.

8. Be able to describe and recognise the Ptolemaic and Copernican models of the Universe, and describe how they differ from each other and the modern day model.

9. Know that:

   • a) most galaxies are moving away from us,

   • b) distant galaxies are moving away more quickly

   • c) microwave radiation is received from all parts of the Universe.

10. HT only: Be able to explain how the Big Bang theory accounts for:

    • a) light from other galaxies shifting to the red end of the spectrum,

    • b) more distant galaxies generally show greater red shift,

    • c) estimating the age and starting point of the Universe.

    • The Big Bang Theory of the Universe and the red-shift

11. Be able to describe the end of the ‘life cycle’ of a small star:

    • a) red giant

    • b) planetary nebula

    • c) white dwarf

12. Be able to describe the end of the ‘life cycle’ of a large star:

    • a) red supergiant

    • b) supernova

    • c) neutron star or black hole (for massive stars)

13. HT only: Be able to describe the life history of a star:

    • a) interstellar gas cloud

    • b) gravitational collapse producing a proto star

    • c) thermonuclear fusion

    • d) long period of normal life (main sequence)

    • c) end depends on mass of star.

14. HT only: Be able to explain the properties of a black hole:

    • a) large mass, small volume and high density,

    • b) strong gravitational attraction due to the large mass.

15. Be able to describe the evidence or observations that caused Copernicus and Galileo to develop new scientific models of the Universe, and explain how technological advances contributed to the new models.

16. HT only: Be able to explain why the theories of the Copernicus and Galileo models were considered controversial when they were announced, and were not widely adopted until many years had passed.