Observing the universe
I can describe what redshift is and how it is measured.
Observing the universe
I can describe what redshift is and how it is measured.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Telescopes extended what was visible after their invention in the seventeenth century.
- Images detected by telescopes in space are not distorted by effects of the Earth’s atmosphere.
- A galaxy is a group of hundreds of billions of stars, and there are many galaxies spread across the universe.
- A visible spectrum of light emitted from stars or galaxies shows dark lines of frequencies of light.
- Red shift is the movement of hydrogen lines towards the red end of the visible spectrum.
Keywords
Space telescope - is a telescope positioned in space to avoid atmospheric interference and observe parts of the spectrum which cannot reach the Earth’s surface
Galaxy - is a collection of many millions or billions of stars held together by gravitational forces
Redshift - is the increase in the wavelength of light (and decrease in its frequency) cause by the movement of a star or galaxy away from us
Common misconception
Stars twinkle (change brightness rapidly).
Explore the ideas that Earth’s atmosphere is made of moving air that refracts light from stars in changing directions to distort the light coming from stars.
To help you plan your year 11 physics lesson on: Observing the universe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 physics lesson on: Observing the universe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 4 physics lessons from the Gravity in space unit, dive into the full secondary physics curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.