Summary:
A planetary nebula is when a red giant changes into a white dwarf due to the loss of layers from the star. Hydrogen is fused into helium during the sun's fusion. Elements from iron and after cannot be fused cannot be fused due to them being too tightly bound. Kean begins the chapter talking about the creation of elements and how the big bang theory is a very big theory of how earth, along with elements of course, was created. The big bang theory was mostly about how all matter came together to form a small compact ball that eventually exploded. Kean talked about how in ancient times venus was said to ring Saturn and Mars. He also mentions how star burn up the elements hydrogen and helium.
Kean began talking about some of the formations of gas giants. He then begins to focus on Jupiter. Some examples are, Jupiter being part of the first ever intergalactic collision seen by humans, elements also live very strange lives on Jupiter because Jupiter is what Kean referred to as a 'tweener, atoms have to possibility to be part of a chemical or a nuclear reaction on Jupiter, and the red spot of Jupiter is around the same size of 3 earths. Kean goes on to talk about Clair Patterson and her discovery about how the Earth is 4.55 billion years old. He used leads in her experiment, they were 204, 206, and 207. All of the leads that she used were broken down from uranium. Patterson eventually came to the conclusion that lead paint should be banned. Kean also mentions how many debris may have struck the Earth at one point in time, killing millions of animals.
Reflection:
I really enjoyed how Kean mentioned the creation of the elements on Earth. The thought of knowing that there is a logical explanation about the creation of Earth, left me something to ponder. Though, I did have a bit of a hard time trying to understand some of the chapter. Mainly during the part where Kean spoke about how the burning of hydrogen and helium occur.
No comments:
Post a Comment