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Physics LibreTexts

1: Size and Scope

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Chapter 1 gives an overview of objects in our Solar System, Galaxy, and Universe, such as: elements in the periodic table, planets, stars, galaxies, galaxy clusters, and more. It engages you in size and distance ranking between astronomical objects and in understanding scales and models of astronomical systems.

  • 1.0: Size and Scope Introduction
    When you think of the Universe, what comes to mind? Do you have an idea of how big the Universe is? Do you know what sorts of objects it contains? This chapter will explore the Universe in the most general terms. Even if you think you can make a reasonably descriptive list of what's in the Universe (and you will be asked to do so), you might be surprised to find that some of the items do not fall where you originally thought they would
  • 1.1: Your Model of the Universe
    You will articulate your own model of the universe. You will be able to compare your model with the one in the powers of ten video.
  • 1.2: Our Solar System
    You will know the objects in the Solar System: the Sun; Planets; Moons; Comets, Asteroids, and Small Debris. You will be able to compare and contrast the properties of these objects
  • 1.3: Our Galaxy - The Milky Way
    You will know the objects in our Galaxy: Stars; Star Clusters; Nebulae. You will know the shape of our Galaxy and that its major components are the bulge, disk, and halo. You will know where we fit within our Galaxy
  • 1.4: Other Galaxies and Large-scale Structures in the Universe
    You will know the types of galaxies: spiral, elliptical, irregular. You will know that galaxies can be grouped into galaxy groups and clusters and form web-like structures on the largest scales
  • 1.5: The Smallest Stuff- Particles, Atoms, and Molecules
    You will know that matter is composed of atoms, which are composed of particles
  • 1.6: Hierarchy- How the Objects Are Arranged
    You will be able to rank objects by size and distance. You will be able to sort objects into the hierarchy of solar system – galaxy - universe.
  • 1.7: Scale the Universe
    You will create a scale model of the Solar System and relate it to everyday and galactic scales.
  • 1.8: Wrapping It Up 1 - Size, Scope, and Units
    You will be able to put everything together to demonstrate your understanding of the size and scope of the universe. You will be able to compare human, universe, and small scales.
  • 1.9: Mission Report 1 - Size, Scope, and Units


This page titled 1: Size and Scope is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kim Coble, Kevin McLin, & Lynn Cominsky.

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