2.  There was nothing.

3. 13.7 Billion Years Ago  Energy expanded out from a single point called a singularity.  Really HOT  No matter yet (no atoms)

4. 1 Second – 10 Seconds after the Big Bang  Energy began to cool enough to form subatomic particles  Protons  Neutrons  Electrons

5. 3 – 20 minutes after the Big Bang  Protons and neutrons begin forming nuclei of smallest atoms.  Electrons are still moving too fast.

6. 377,000 years after the Big Bang  Universe continues to cool.  Positive nuclei begin to hold on to electrons to form first atoms.  75% of matter is Hydrogen  25% of matter is Helium

7. 200 million years after the Big Bang  Collections of hydrogen and helium begin to form in space.  Gravity pulling in on the gases sparked fusion reactions and first generation stars had formed.  First generation stars larger than our sun.

9.  Stars that are located near each other began to form the first galaxies within the universe. They are held together by each other’s gravitational pull.  Galaxies are still expanding outward (universe is still growing)

10.  In the core of stars, hydrogen and helium atoms fuse into larger, heavier elements.  Oxygen  Carbon  Iron  Sodium  Magnesium  Sulfur  Silicon

11.  First generation stars burned hotter, brighter, and faster than our sun.  When they ran out of fuel for fusion reactions they exploded in giant supernovas scattering the contents of the star all over the universe.  We really are stardust!

12.  Left over gases from first generation stars began to collect and fusion reactions began.  Second generation stars are smaller, slower burning stars.  Our sun formed approximately 5 billion years ago; 5 billion more years before it runs out of gas.

13.  Shortly after the sun formed, dust and debris began to orbit it.  Slowly, the dust collected into larger objects such as the planets and moons.

14. 4.6 Billion years ago  Earth formed by accretion  Smaller pieces of debris and dust collected and fused together into the early Earth

15.  Shortly after the Earth began to form, it was struck by a large asteroid.  Part of the Earth was thrown off into space and collected as the moon.

16.  The Earth was originally covered with molten rock.  Denser nickel and iron sunk to the core  Less Dense silicon floated to the surface  The Earth cooled over time and trapped gasses below the surface  Gases were released during volcanic eruptions and formed the atmosphere.

17.  Water vapor in the atmosphere condensed and rained down on the Earth.  Oceans had formed by 3.8 billion years ago.  The early atmosphere consisted of:  Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Sulfur dioxide, Methane, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Chlorine, and Ammonia  No free oxygen gas  Free oxygen was added later by living things.

19.  Unifomitarianism  The natural forces at work today were the same forces working before.  Earth changed slowly over time to what we see today.  Theory of Plate Tectonics ▪ The crust is floating and moving atop the liquid mantle. ▪ Crustal plates move in relation to one another.  Continental Drift Theory  Three different supercontinents; Pangea most recent