English National Curriculum Science

5. Recognise the scale of the Universe

Mission Objectives

Compare the size of different objects in the Universe

Understand the light year and other units of astronomical distance

Complete an experiment to estimate the speed of light

Sign up to view the full lesson

Rocket Words Quiz

See if you know all the meanings of the rocket words

Assessment Quiz

Test your knowledge of this lesson

Word Search Game

Find all the rocket words in the grid

Lesson Resources

Lesson Plan

View and print the lesson plan

View

Downloads

Save files related to this lesson

Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

planetary system

a set of gravitationally bound planets that are in orbit around a star

lookback time

the time taken for light from a distant object to reach the Earth

observable Universe

the area of the Universe that we can study at present, due to the time taken for electromagnetic radiation from far away to reach Earth

Universe

everything that exists, including space, time and matter

light year

a unit of astronomical distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year, which is 9.46 × 10^12 km

This lesson has been written by

Dr Peter Klappa

Peter Klappa studied Biology (BSc Hons and MSc) at the Ludwigs-Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, where he also obtained his PhD in molecular and cellular biology. He is a National Teaching Fellow and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As a trained Biology and Chemistry teacher, Peter has taught sciences for over 30 years, both at pre- and post-entry to university. For his excellence in teaching, Peter has received numerous awards and prizes and was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award by the Higher Education Academy in 2015 and 2019.

Required Resources

Resources: Microwave oven, a chocolate bar and a ruler.

Core Handout: Estimate the speed of light. 

Sign up to view the full lesson

This lesson is only available to registered users, you can sign up for an account to get full access to this lesson.

Simply click the "Start your free trial" button below to get started.

Sign up to view the full lesson

This lesson is only available to registered users, you can sign up for an account to get full access to this lesson.

Simply click the "Start your free trial" button below to get started.

Warning: You are now leaving Developing Experts.

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval from Developing Experts of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organisation or individual.

Developing Experts bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

You will be redirected to:

Expert film

Sign up to view the full lesson

This lesson is only available to users with an active subscription.

Mission assignment film

Sign up to view the full lesson

This lesson is only available to users with an active subscription.

Careers related to this lesson

Operations Support Worker

Nuclear Decomissioning Operative

Nuclear Decomissioning Team Leader

Nuclear Decomissioning Site Engineer

Manager of Production or Maintenance

Technical or Production Director