1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,960 Hey, how would you like to create a model of our universe using something as simple as a balloon? 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,400 Hi, we're from Fort Washakie School in Fort Washakie, Wyoming. 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,520 We live on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Central Wyoming. 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,600 We enjoy spending time in the Wind River Mountains, which tower behind our home. 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,080 Our community consists of many Native American tribes, 6 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:24,400 but most of us are members of the Shoshone tribe. 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:30,000 We are proud of our heritage and we celebrate by participating in powwows and traditional 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:35,360 ceremonies. We also take pride in our arts and crafts that we have learned from our elders. 9 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,160 NASA Connect asks us to help you understand this show's student activity. 10 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,000 In this lesson, you'll learn about our expanding universe. 11 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,160 You'll also learn how scientists use models to understand observations, 12 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,440 and you'll get to plot and analyze data that you'll get from taking 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,640 distance measurements between objects in your own universe. 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,440 You see, we'll use an analogy to try to explain a very complex concept. 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:00,560 What's an analogy? 16 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,920 It's simple, really. It's a comparison. 17 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,920 For example, sometimes I say my big brother is like a vacuum cleaner when he eats. 18 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,640 I use the vacuum cleaner as an analogy to try to explain his eating habit. 19 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:20,080 You're going to use an analogy for the universe to help you understand the idea that it is expanding. 20 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,120 When I look out into space, I really don't see anything expanding. 21 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:25,840 It's too big. 22 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,320 So we'll use something like the universe to help us understand 23 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:33,200 one of its characteristics that we cannot easily see. 24 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,720 A good analogy for the universe expanding would be a loaf of raisin bread baking in the oven. 25 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,960 As the loaf expands, the raisins move away from each other. 26 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,360 The raisins represent galaxies and the bread represents space. 27 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,480 This is kind of like what happens in the universe. 28 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,160 Another analogy for the expansion of the universe is a balloon. 29 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,160 Things that exist on the surface of a balloon, for example, 30 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,120 these marks move further apart as the balloon is blown up. 31 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,080 In just a minute, we're going to measure the distance between points on a balloon 32 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,400 when it is about the size of a grapefruit, 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,120 then again when it is blown up to about the size of your head. 34 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,160 Before we do that, here's something you must understand about an analogy. 35 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,920 It's only like what it is compared to in a certain way. 36 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,720 The balloon is not the universe, in other words. 37 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,800 In fact, the surface of a balloon is only two-dimensional, 38 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,560 not three-dimensional like the universe. 39 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,480 It would be very hard to measure something inside the balloon 40 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,560 because, well, we can't get inside of it. 41 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,280 Because we can measure the distance between points on the surface of a balloon, 42 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,880 that's what we'll do to verify what Hubble discovered about the universe. 43 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,560 He found out the further away a space object is from us, 44 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:48,320 the faster it is moving away from us. 45 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,840 Now that you understand about the universe expanding 46 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,800 and how we use models and analogies to describe it, 47 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:56,720 you're ready to do the lesson. 48 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,600 Separate into groups, then expand your balloon to about the size of a grapefruit. 49 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:05,600 Roll the neck of the balloon making three turns toward the expanded portion. 50 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,040 Secure it with a binder clip to keep air from escaping. 51 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:11,680 Mark a point near the balloon's equator. 52 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:13,920 Label the first point as home. 53 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,120 Starting from home, measure 10 millimeter intervals along the balloon's equator 54 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:20,640 and mark five points. 55 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:23,120 Label each point starting with the number one. 56 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,040 Measure again the distance to point number one from home. 57 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,560 Be sure no air has escaped. 58 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,520 Record the distance from home to each point. 59 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,680 Be careful not to compress or dent the balloon while making the marks. 60 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,600 Expand the balloon to about the size of your head. 61 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,720 Measure the new distance from home to each point 62 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:43,840 and record the result. 63 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,160 Be careful not to compress or dent the balloon while making the measurements. 64 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,960 Calculate the distance each point moved 65 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,880 by subtracting its first recorded distance from home 66 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,720 from the second recorded distance. 67 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,280 Have someone check the calculations. 68 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,080 Record the results on the data sheet. 69 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,280 Now divide the distance each point traveled by the time it took 70 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,800 or when epoch to get the expansion rate. 71 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,880 This is the rate of expansion of your balloon. 72 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,560 Record the results for each point on the data sheet. 73 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,920 Now you're ready to plot your data. 74 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,600 Using the data from the universe data sheet, plot the points. 75 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,080 Distance traveled, expansion rate. 76 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,120 Team members should verify that the points are plotted correctly on the graph. 77 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,280 So what conclusions can you make from this lesson? 78 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,120 Alpha 1R graph looks just like the Hubble data graph. 79 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,800 We created a pretty good model for the expansion of space. 80 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,000 Our data shows a linear pattern like the Hubble data. 81 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,160 That's great! Any other thoughts about this lesson? 82 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,320 We learned how to use the metric system. 83 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:56,000 Science is fun. 84 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:58,640 How the universe expands. 85 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,160 Way to go guys! You did a great job. 86 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,800 Hey teachers, check out our NASA Connect website 87 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,960 and download the lesson guide from this program. 88 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,280 You'll find this student activity, data analysis questions, 89 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:13,920 extension activities, and tons more.