1. Planet Earth

3. And then there was...Earth The “Big Bang Theory” is the most widely accepted theory on how the Earth came into being. http://vimeo.com/13974273

4. So how did we go from... This toThis?

5. Technology! In 1922 astronomer Edwin Hubble observed that the universe was expanding. Through his telescope he could see that distant galaxies were moving away at 40 000 km/s

6. Hubble Space Telescope New telescopes can see further into space and have determined that galaxies are moving away from Earth at ever increasing rates.

7. Hubble’s Law The velocity at which a galaxy is moving away from us is proportional to the distance of the galaxy from us. If the universe is expanding then it is logical to assume that the it was once infinitely smaller.

8. The Big Bang Theory It states that the universe began forming 15 to 20 billion years ago, following an enormous explosion. The dust and gas created as a result of the explosion were drawn together by gravitational attraction to form a huge cloud.

9. The Big Bang Theory The debris in this gigantic swirling cloud began to gather in circular movements called eddies. The largest eddies contained enough matter to form whole galaxies.

10. How does this relate to the study of Physical Geography?

11. Changing Technology The Hubble space telescope was originally launched in 1990. Over many years scientists have upgraded the telescope with newer technologies. This technology has allowed us to map planets, study moons, and observe asteroids and meteorites within our own solar system.

12. Remote Sensing Tool The Hubble space telescope is an example of a remote sensing tool. Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object.

13. Radiometric Dating Radiometric dating uses the radioactivity of certain minerals in rocks to determine their ages. It was radiometric dating that ascertained that planet Earth is about 4.6 billion years old.