Dr. Birdley Teaches Science! - PDF Free Download

Dr. Birdley Teaches Science! Constructing the Earth Featuring the Comic Strip Middle and High School Written and Illustrated by Nevin Katz Incentive Publications, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee

Table of Contents Contents Teacher s Guide... 5 Unit 1: The Big Bang... 13 Unit 2: Origin of the Solar System... 23 Unit 3: Early Earth and its Layers... 33 Unit 4: Plate Tectonics... 43 Unit 5: Oceans and the Water Cycle... 57 Unit 6: Early Life... 67 Unit 7: A Living Planet... 80 Answer Key... 89 1

Unit 1: The Big Bang Contents Source Cartoon: The Big Bang 14 Source Cartoon: Red Shift 15 Cartoon Profiles 16 Study Questions 18 Background 20 Visual Exercise 21 Quiz 22 13

THE BIG BANG Origin of the Universe Objectives 1. To chronicle the events that immediately followed the Big Bang. 2. To illustrate the origin of hydrogen and helium, which were the first two elements in the universe. 3. To illustrate the state of the universe in its first two billion years of existence. Synopsis Birdley dreams that he is one of the protons that was around during the time of the Big Bang. The proton combines with tritium (a heavy isotope of hydrogen) and forms the element helium. Hydrogen and helium end up serving as the fuel for stars. Main Ideas 1. Fifteen billion years ago, all matter in the universe was a great deal hotter and more dense. 2. After the Big Bang, all matter in the universe expanded over time. 3. The first two elements to form were hydrogen and helium. 4. Helium formed from a proton combining with a heavy isotope of hydrogen called tritium. 5. The proton and tritium combined despite their positive charge because of the high temperatures (50 million degrees Celsius). 6. Helium and hydrogen became the fuel for stars, which were the only bodies in the universe for the first two billion years. Vocabulary Big Bang matter hydrogen nucleus helium proton tritium fusion Characters Dr. Birdley, Clarissa, Proton Birdley, Tritium Owelle Questions for Discussion Before Reading: 1. What do you already know about theories on how the universe began? 2. How old do you think the universe is? 3. What do you think were the first bodies in the universe to form? After Reading: 1. Compared to outer space today, how was space different shortly after the Big Bang? 2. Does the Big Bang theory include all the materials necessary for the formation of the earth? Why or why not? 3. What additional materials would be needed for the formation of the earth? 16

RED SHIFT Astronomy & Waves Objectives 1. To introduce evidence for the occurrence of the Big Bang. 2. To explain how the red shift and the Doppler Effect relate to the movement of galaxies. Synopsis After Owelle expresses his disbelief in the Big Bang theory, Dr. Birdley explains Edwin Hubble s discovery of red shift, which indicates that the galaxies are continually spreading apart. Main Ideas 1. In 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered a red shift. Stars from faraway galaxies were emitting light that seemed more red than normal. 2. The red shift indicated that the wavelength of emitted light was changing to a longer wavelength due to the motion of the galaxy s stars. 3. In this case, the galaxies are moving farther away from a central point. 4. The fact that galaxies are moving farther away suggests that the universe must be spreading out, and that the galaxies were at some point closer together. 5. The Hubble telescope is being used to collect additional data on the galaxies rate of expansion. Vocabulary wavelength Big Bang galaxy red shift Doppler Effect Hubble telescope Characters Dr. Birdley, Owelle, and Jayke Questions for Discussion Before Reading: 1. What do you know about the Big Bang? 2. Why might it be hard to gather evidence concerning the Big Bang? 3. What does the Big Bang theory state? After Reading: 1. What evidence for the Big Bang does Birdley provide Owelle? 2. What does this evidence suggest? 3. Do you find this evidence convincing? Why or why not? 17