Jon Chase explains the scale of the solar system and universe using simple demonstrations at a shopping centre and race track.
He explains the Doppler effect and introduces red-shift and cosmic microwave background radiation, which provide evidence for an expanding universe.
This short film is from the 成人快手 series, Space Science Bites.
Teacher Notes
Use this short film as an introduction to a Doppler effect demonstration using a buzzer swung around on a piece of cord.
Discuss everyday examples of Doppler effect - such as the pitch change as a vehicle passes. Apparent shift in frequency could be investigated using a moving sound source and data logger.
This could be related to applications including radar and echocardiograms.
Discuss in more detail what redshift is: The ratio of velocity of a galaxy to the velocity of light.
As an expanding universe demonstration students could stick dots on an uninflated balloon and measure change in separation distance at different stages as the balloon is inflated.
_Students should look at how the rate of increase in distance between spots is different depending on the spots' original positions. _
This can be related to the different recession velocities of different galaxies based on their distance from us.
This can be related to Hubble's law, which allows us to estimate the age of the universe.
Following this, students could prepare a poster to explain evidence for the Big Bang.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching physics.
This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland, and Cambridge IGCSE Physics.
More from Space Science Bites:
Gravity on Earth and in space. video
Jon Chase demonstrates why he would weigh more on Jupiter than on Earth.
The life cycle of stars. video
Jon Chase explains how the dust and gas released from dying stars forms new stars and solar systems using a popular game and a rap.
Nuclear fusion in stars. video
Jon Chase explains the nuclear fusion that causes stars like our sun to give out enormous heat.
Spectroscopy and the composition of stars. video
Jon Chase demonstrates a spectrometer made from a cardboard tube and an old CD to people in a shopping centre.
Waves and communication. video
Jon Chase demonstrates how electromagnetic waves are used in communication using an infra-red remote control and an outside TV broadcast.
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