Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigS
Kids are being pushed to ridiculous levels these days !!
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I disagree, and am frequently disheartened to see how little kids learn in high school these days (esp maths and natural science), compared to when I went to school.
Since these appear to be questions asked by kids the answers should be correct but simple rather than profound, and wrong answers shouldn't lead to loss of IIS membership
With that in mind, I give it a crack, please feel free to correct and complete:
Group 1
1. What is Dark Matter?
Dark matter is hypothetical stuff that we believe to be there, otherwise our understanding of the mechanics of the universe doesn't work out. In order to function the way it appears to do the universe needs to be heavier than all the matter we can see. There must be matter we can't see, and that's what we call Dark Matter.
2. How is Dark Matter formed?
We don't know. In fact, we don't know how any of the matter in the universe was formed. Dark Matter, if it exists, was most likely "born" during the Big Bang, like all other matter.
3. How was Dark Matter discovered?
It wasn't. We have yet to discover Dark Matter, and experiments and observations have been proposed or are underway to achieve this. So far Dark Matter is a hypothetical construct we need to consolidate our understanding of the universe with what we can observe.
4. Where other than space can Dark Matter be found? (If there is no other places, leave blank.)
Dark Matter was invented to explain phenomena in our own universe (which is all we can observe and extend our scientific exploration to). If there are other universes they may or may not contain Dark Matter.
5. How has science made an impact on Dark Matter?
Science (and human activity in general) can only make an impact on matter if we interact with it. Since we have no way of seeing or detecting Dark Matter so far we cannot know whether and how we interact with it. Dark Matter has made an impact on science, however, both physics and philosophy, and created some controversy. There are attempts by a minority of scientists at explaining the universe without resorting to Dark Matter.
Group 2
1. What are solar storms and what affect can they do to Earth?
Solar storms are huge explosions in the Sun's atmosphere. They can sometimes cause large amounts of charged particles to be ejected into space. When those travel towards and hit the Earth they can cause deformations in the Earth's magnetic field and increased ionisation of the Earth's upper atmosphere. This can affect space craft, radio communication and in extreme cases induce voltage spikes in the power grid. It also causes increased auroral activity that can extend further from the Earth's poles than usual.
2. What is Dark Matter made of? (Is it nothing or a certain substance)
Dark Matter is unlike any substance we know, and unique in that we're unable to detect it, other than by the presumed effect of its gravity. We don't know what it's made of.
3. What is the most likely cause of the end of the world and why?
There is not likely an end to the universe, it just keeps changing. The Earth will most likely cease to exist as the Sun dies and turns into a red giant. The Sun's diameter will probably consume the Earth's orbit when that happens.
4. Is our Solar System large?
It is large from our point of view but tiny if seen as part of our galaxy or the universe. Our Earth is about 150,000,000km away from the centre (the Sun), light takes about 8 minutes to travel this far. The distance from the Sun to the outermost planet (Neptune) is 30 times that, and there are objects orbiting the Sun at 50 times our distance. The diameter of our galaxy is 3 billion times the diameter of the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
5. How long should Earth last?
Earth will probably be consumed by the Sun turning red giant in about 5 billion years.
6. Where would be our next home after Mars and Europa?
Interesting choice for our first two next homes
I have no idea.
Cheers
Steffen.