Year 9 The Universe

How big is the universe?? How can we understand how big it is?? Use this tool to help gain an understanding of how big the universe is....

ACTIVITY: Size and distance in space

Task 1: The wonders of the universe (This is through the Department's TALE website, you may have to log in through your portal and then try and open it)

Task 2: View the above video.

Task 3: Read the module's instructions on exponential notation and then have a go yourself at the tasks. Follow this link to the module.

Task 4: Discuss in a small group why astronomers would need to use exponential notation when referring to distances in space.

Task 5: In astronomy, distances are related to time. What astronomers see, actually happened in the past, because the distances are so great it takes so long for the light created by an event in space to reach us. Discuss this as a small group.

Task 6: The size of celestial objects are also great. Discuss how big you think some celestial objects could be in comparison to the earth. As a group, discuss your thoughts on how your understanding of the size and distance in space has developed while studying this unit. Write your thoughts in a paragraph beginning with the sentence..."I knew the universe was big, but I didn't know how big! Now I understand that......."

Task 7: This is an activity to compare the sizes of objects in the universe.

DON'T bother trying to listen to the podcasts because they just repeat the text that is written and they are slow to get going.

Task 8: This activity asks you to follow the links at the bottom of the page to explore the universe. Make bullet point summaries in your book on each slide. Explore our Place in Space.

Useful links: The scale of the universe