SHS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Quarter 2 – Module 1
THE EARTH IN THE UNIVERSE

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Physical Science– Grade 11/12
Quarter 2 – Module 1: The Earth in the Universe

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Laiza May Llobit

Editors/Reviewers: Jocelyn Navera

Brenly Mendoza Kristina Nieves Aster Malto Jeanine Cristobal
Kenneth De la Fuente

Layout Artist: Jose Gamas Jr.

Language Editor: Diana Desuyo

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 Supplementary Learning Module for Senior High School Learners
LESSON
The Earth in the Universe

1. Explain how the Greeks knew that the Earth is spherical (S11/12PS-IVa-38)
2. Cite examples of Astronomical phenomena known to astronomers before the
advent of telescopes (S11/12PS-IVa-41)
3. Explain how Brahe’s Innovations and extensive collection of data in
observational astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s Discovery of his laws
of planetary motion (S11/12PS-IVb-44)

The universe is a vast space that is beyond the reach of our naked eye
and maybe our understanding. Although, scientists have already
gathered numerous facts and information we still have lot of things to
know
about it. It is in fact interesting when we talk about what we seek to understand. The first
Philosophers and Astronomers paved the way for us to understand all the things that we
know today. Truly they did such great work during their time that made it possible for the
advancements of today. Indeed, with their efforts, learning science has been so much fun!

Once you were a kid, probably you have thought on how things outside the earth looked like and aspired to beco
Have you seen a comet landing on earth in a starry
night sky? How about a total solar eclipse that darkens the day time? And a lunar eclipse that makes a moon
blood? Well, these are only some of the magnificent events that we can witness with our own naked eyes. In this

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. Explain how the Greeks knew that the Earth is spherical;

2. Cite examples of Astronomical phenomena known to astronomers before the advent
of telescopes; and
3. Explain how Brahe’s Innovations and extensive collection of data in observational
astronomy paved the way for Kepler’s Discovery of his laws of planetary motion.

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 PRE TEST
Directions: Read the question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.

1. Which of the following phenomena led to the discovery that the earth is spherical?
a. Disappearing ships c. Solar eclipse
b. Lunar eclipse d. both a & b
2. This event/phenomenon became the basis of ancient calendars.
a. Lunar eclipse c. Solar eclipse
b. Phases of the moon d. supernova
3. These are planets visible on Earth’s night sky except
a. Jupiter c. Mercury
b. Mars d. Neptune
4. A Danish astronomer and nobleman who made accurate observations of the
movement of celestial bodies
a. Anaxagoras c Tycho Brahe
b. Erastosthenes d. Johannes Kepler
5. The following are laws of planetary motion except
a. Law of equal Area c. Law of ellipses
b. Law of Equivalent exchange d. Law of Harmonies

Hi! How did you find the test?

Please check your answers at the answer key section and see how you did. Take note that these are conce

Directions: Below are names of Greek Philosophers that contributed greatly in the advanceme
earth. Please be able to write down their contributions.

1. Empedocles

_ _
_ _ .

2. Anaxagoras
_ _
_ _ _.

3. Aristarchus of Samos
_ _ _
_ _ _.

4. Eratosthenes
_ _
_ _

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 Babylonian and Egyptian astronomers were the first to develop
systems that became the framework of Greek astronomy on the other
hand, Americans, Chinese and Indians developed their own. Starts played
very important part in history and civilizations. They developed unique
systems
for ordering and understanding what is seen above.

On the 5th century B.C., Earth is

considered shaped like a sphere but
there are lots of misconceptions, ancient
people thought that the Earth was flat.
This was simply not the case. In the 5th
century B.C., the famous philosophers
Empedocles and Anaxagoras offered
arguments for the spherical nature of the
Earth. They said that during a lunar
eclipse, when the Earth is between the
sun and the moon, they identified the
shadow of the Earth on the moon. The
shadow of the earth moves across the
moon and would create a clearly round
shadow. This suggests that the earth is
really a sphere. Proving that the earth is
Image source:
not flat. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/1d/33/f81d33b0705c79b4f0d6
5b1d913b5f6e.jpg
A lunar eclipse does not happen most of the time and not all people in the world can
witness the same sight depending on where that person is located in the world, another
evidence that the earth is sphere are the experiences of sailors. This is often written in
elementary books especially in Philippine history books during the expedition of Magellan,
one of the events in history that proved that the earth is round. Usually, when you are in a
port when a ship appears on the horizon it is the top of the ship that is visible first. A wide
range of astronomy texts over time use this to illustrate the roundness of the Earth. As the
image suggests this is exactly what one would expect on a spherical Earth. If the Earth were
flat, it would be expected that you would be able to see the entire ship as soon as it became
visible.

Image source: https://ds055uzetaobb.cloudfront.net/brioche/uploads/a5XaP9YEwL-ship- horizon-1.png?width=600

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 Aside from the shadow of the Earth during the Lunar eclipse it also unlocked another
understanding about the Earth. Aristarchus of Samos (3rd Century B.C.) proved that he can
figure out the size of the earth through the information that can be gathered during a lunar
eclipse. Erasthosthenes (240 B.C.) used a different approach. He measured the shadow of
Alexandria and Syrene to calculate their angle relative to the sun. There were questions on
the accuracy of the approach of
Erasthosthenes. However, it was
close to the actual size of the
Earth. Greeks were already
exploring and using
mathematics in their
everyday life and to feed
their curiosity. They
theorize about the nature
of the world. They
believed that the
phenomena that they are
experiencing and became
a great part of their living
can be explained through
empirical exploration and
evidence.

Image source:
https://hawaii.hawaii.edu/math/Courses/Math100/Chapter3/Notes/Exercise
s/EarthC2.png
Different from what we know today, ancient Greeks observing the night sky only found
two primary kinds of celestial objects. The fixed stars and the wandering stars. Talking about
your own experience have you ever observed a night sky? If you have, for sure you have
seen the stars that are twinkling above trying to catch your attention. For ancient Greeks,
some stars seem to have a fix point in the sky and move all together from night to night.
These are what they so called fixed stars. Aside from these, there seem to be a set of
objects that behave differently. The moon, the sun, and the other planets (Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter). For Greeks, these are the
wandering stars. Because they do
not have a fixed point and they move
according to a different system. In
this system, the entire universe was
part of a great sphere split into two
sections an outer celestial realm and
the inner terrestrial one. The one
that divides the two sections is the
orbit of the moon. Aristotle posited
that there was a fifth substance, the
quintessence, that was what the
heavens were made of, and that the
heavens were a place of perfect
spherical motion.

Image Source:
https://i2.wp.com/factschronicle.com/wp
-
content/uploads/2019/03/photo-1527492662722-dbaf97270863.jpg

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 Directions: Explain how these phenomenon/heavenly bodies led to the
discovery that the earth is spherical.

1. North Star
_ _
_ _
2. The Shape of the Sun and the Moon

_ _ _
_ _
3. Disappearing Ships

_ _
_ _
4. Lunar eclipse

_ _
_ _

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 Hi! How did you find the activity?
Have you missed your astronomy lessons? How about talking endlessly about space? Bet you will be h
Let’s now proceed to our next activity!

Directions: Given the following pictures below, what event/phenomenon

identify
is occurring.

1 2 3

Image sources:
1. https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/Oct2014_Lunar_eclipse_Horne.jpg
2. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/system/downloadable_items/940_moon_phases.png
3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-76458095,width-1200,height-900,resizemode-4/.jpg

Good job in finishing the activity! Take note that before the advancement of technology our
first astronomers had only their eyes to observe and to create assumptions on what they see
around them. The absence of telescope made it harder for them to gather relevant
information about the universe but that didn’t stop them to understand key
events/phenomenon that unlocked some of the concepts that we understand now. Take time
to process the information you acquired by accomplishing the next task.

PICTURE ANALYSIS
Directions: Analyze the 2 pictures that were given below. What do you think is the connection of these photos to o

Image source: Image source: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/07/19/science/1 5SCI-COMET

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C8J3DqPeDVQ/hqdefault.jpg

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 Planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are easily seen in the sky
without the aid of telescopes, we sometimes refer them as the brightest star
in the sky. The best time to look for these planets would be before sunrise
and after sunset. Even before the invention of the telescope, our ancestors
were
already fond of these heavenly bodies in the sky. It helped them in so many ways and
created other inventions that made it possible for them to live a more convenient life.
Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations used a primitive version of a sundial, called
gnomon, with this, they were able to observe the motion of the sun. By looking at the
shadows that the gnomon casts, they were able to observe that the sun rises in the eastern
part of the sky, reaches its highest point in midday, and sets in the western part of the sky.
Also, they were able to record that the points where the sun rises and sets on the horizon
varies over a year and these variations happen periodically. They observed that these
variations are related to weather and so concluded that seasonal changes in climate happen
during a course of one year.

The next discussion are examples of phenomena that before the advent of telescopes
and have been the key on some of the big concepts in science that we know now.

Phases of the Moon

Ancient people observed that the

moon changes its appearance.
From a full circular disk to, semi-
circular disk to nothing at all. They
also have observed that these
changes in appearance and path
happens within the period of 29.5
days. This is what we know
Phases of the moon and the
became basis of ancient
calendars, including our lunar
calendar.

Lunar Eclipse
Aside from their observation in the
changing appearance of the moon, they
also noticed that there are times when the
moon or part of it is being covered by a
shadow for a brief moment. This happens
when the Earth casts its shadow to the
moon when the Earth is located between
the Sun and the moon. This phenomenon
is known as the Lunar eclipse wherein the
moon changes into a dark or blood red
color.

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Solar Eclipse

Aside from lunar eclipse, there were times

wherein the sun seemed to be partially or
fully blocked creating a dark sunny day
time scene. This phenomenon occurs
when the moon is between the Sun and the
Earth and partially or completely blocks out
the sun. This occurrence is called the Solar
eclipse.

The Motion of the Stars

It was also observed that the stars appear to be attached to a celestial sphere that
rotates around an axis in one day. This axis intersects the celestial sphere at a point in the
northern sky and is presently close to the northern star, Polaris. Also, the constellations’
positions in the night sky vary depending on the time of the year. That is why there are
constellations that cannot be seen of have changed its position when you look at the night
sky.

Visibility of Planets

Pretty sure, you have already seen a very bright star near a crescent moon once in
your life. But did you know that, that bright thing is not really a star but a planet?
Astronomers have discovered that Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are planets
because they have noticed that the stars are in a fixed position with
respect to each other (like how constellations are
always grouped). But there are very bright stars that
change positions periodically. These “stars” do not
belong to any group of constellations in the sky. Thus,
they are called "wanderers” or planetes in Greek
terms. In today’s era one of the occurrences and
evidence that the some of the planets of the Solar
system can be seen from earth is that phenomenon
(see fig. on the right). As you can see, there are times
that these bright things are not near the moon but
since they are following their own orbit this occurrence Source:https://secure.i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/
happens. archive/01124/Smiley-Philippines_1124654c.jpg

SUPERNOVA vs COMET LANDING ON EARTH

Supernova has been part of our history from the creation of the elements to the
creation of bigger and heavier matter around us. Just recently, we can now see images of an
actual star explosion but we cannot see or observe this with our naked eye unlike the
landing of comets or asteroids or shooting stars. These phenomena can easily be seen.
Ancient people also witnessed this wonderful event without the aid of telescopes.

Images and lesson source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/physical-science/lesson-66-astronomical-

phenomena-known-to-astronomers-before-the-advent-of-teles/2060305700652311/
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 Directions: The scientists below mainly worked on the laws of the
planetary motion. What are their work/contributions? Please write on
the space provided below the names.

TYCHO BRAHE

Image source:
https://cdn.britannica.com/77/83677
- 050-D0958F1A/Tycho-Brahe.jpg

JOHANNES KEPLER

Image source:
https://www2.hao.ucar.edu/sites/defa
ult/files/images/education/physicists/J
ohannesKepler.jpg

Directions: Given the laws of planetary motions below be able to share what
you already know about these. Please write on the space provided.

1. The Law of Ellipses

2. The Law of Equal Areas

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 3. The Law of Harmonies

Tycho Brahe was a Danish astronomer, nobleman and writer born the
Danish peninsula of Scania and is known for his accurate observations of the movement
of celestial bodies. He worked in an observatory built for him by King Frederick II of
Denmark in 1576. He invented different astronomical instruments, with the
help of his assistants, and made an extensive study of the solar system. He, together with his
assistants were able to determine the position of 777 fixed stars accurately.

When King Frederick II died, his successor did not fully support Brahe’s work, Johannes
Kepler a German astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer moved to Prague in 1599 where
he was supported by Emperor Rudolf II. He then worked as an imperial mathematician and
worked as an assistant of Tycho Brahe at the age of 27. Kepler was born to a poor German
family and studied as a scholar at the University of Tübingen in 1589. He is considered the key
figure in the 17th century scientific revolution. He was known for his Laws of planetary motion and
published books.

Brahe and Kepler's Work

Kepler was Brahe's assistant; however, they had an unsteady working relationship. The
two even have this title The Nobleman and His Housedog. Brahe did not trusted Kepler with his
astronomical data because of fear of being shadowed by his assistant. Brahe assigned to Kepler
the interpretation of his observations of Mars; whose movement did not match Brahe’s
calculations. Kepler was tasked to figure out what path Mars followed as it revolved around the
Sun. It was believed by many scientists that Brahe gave this task to Kepler to keep him occupied
and left Brahe to develop his laws of planetary motion.

Kepler's Discoveries from Brahe's Data

Kepler on his process of work, postulated that there must be a force from the Sun that
moves the planets. He concluded that this force would explain the orbit of Mars and the Earth,
including all the other planets, the nearest from the Sun moved the fastest and farthest from the
Sun moved slowest. Eventually through his deductions and hard work, Brahe decided to give all
his data to Kepler hoping that he would be able to prove his Tychonic system and put together
new tables of astronomical data. This table was known as Rudolphine Tables, named after the
Roman emperor and was useful in determining the positions of the planets for the past 1000
years and the future 1000 years. This was the most accurate table that is known to the
astronomical world. When Brahe died in 1601, Kepler was assigned by Emperor Rudolf IV as the
new imperial mathematician, and all of Brahe’s writings, instruments, and the Rudolphine tables
were passed on to him for further research. From Brahe’s data, Kepler formulated his laws of
planetary motion: the law of ellipses, the law of equal areas, and the law of harmonies.

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion

The Law of Ellipses

When Kepler was trying to figure out Mars’ orbit, it did not fit the existing-famous theory
that a planet follows a circular path. Unlike Brahe, Kepler believed the Copernican system that
the sun is at the center of the solar system. Also, Copernicus assumed that the planets are
orbiting

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 around the sun in a circular manner. Thus, the Copernican theory were still required to explain
the details of planetary motion.

Kepler tried to find the missing piece

of the puzzle; after a long struggle he was
forced to the realization that the orbits of the
planets were not circles but were instead the
“flattened circles” that geometers call ellipses.

This orbit matched his calculations

and explained the “irregularities” in the
movement of Mars. He was able to formulate
his first law of planetary motion, the law of
ellipses which describes that the actual path
followed by the planets was elliptical, not
circular, with the Sun at one focus of the
Source:https:// 4/kepler2.gif
ellipse.

The Law of Equal Areas

The second law, which is the law of equal areas states that when an imaginary line
is drawn from the center of the Sun to the center of a planet, the line will sweep out an equal
area of space in equal time intervals.

The law describes how fast a planet moves in its orbit.

Source:https:// er2.gif

The Law of Harmonies

The law of harmonies, unlike the first and second laws that describe the motion
characteristics of a single planet, the third law makes a comparison between the motion
characteristics of different planets, describes that the square of a planet’s orbital period (T2)
is proportional to the cube of a planet’s average distance from the Sun (R 3). It states that that
the ratio of the squares of the periods of two planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of the
average distances of these two planets from the Sun or:

2 3
T R
1 1
where the subscript 1 indicates planet 1 and subscript 2
=
indicates planet 2.
2 3
T R
2 2
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 In this equation T represents the period of revolution (orbit) for a planet around the
sun and R represents the length of its semimajor axis. The subscripts "1" and "2" distinguish
quantities for planet 1 and 2 respectively. The periods for the two planets are assumed to be
in the same time units and the lengths of the semimajor axes for the two planets are
assumed to be in the same distance units.
Kepler's Third Law implies that the period for a planet to orbit the Sun increases
rapidly with the radius of its orbit. Thus, we find that Mercury, the innermost planet, takes
only 88 days to orbit the Sun but the outermost planet (Pluto) requires 248 years to do the
same.
Directions:
1. Why was Brahe's collection of astronomical observations vital to
Kepler's?

Congratulations on finishing the supplementary learning module! You have just had an amazing learning jour
This time, share to the class your final insights by completing the following sentence prompts.

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 WHAT IF?
To strengthen what you have learned in this module, perform the
following additional tasks.

Directions: What if, the laws of planetary motions is not

true? What if there are no Law of Ellipses, Law of Equal Areas,
and
Law of Harmonies. What if these facts don’t exist? What do you think will
happen to the planets in the solar system? And what do you think will happen
to life on earth? Write your answer in the space provided.

Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is CORRECT and change the

underlined word if that makes the statement WRONG or FAULTY.
1. All the planets in the solar system are visible in the Earth’s night sky.
2. The Phases of the Moon became the basis of the ancient calendars.
3. The Babylonians conclude that the Earth is sphere.
4. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are seen in the sky without the aid of
telescopes.
5. Solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is in between the Sun and the Earth and the
moon partially or completely blocks out the sun.
6. Phases of the moon is the basis of ancient calendars.
7. Johannes Kepler was a Danish astronomer and nobleman who made accurate
observations of the movement of celestial bodies.
8. Law of ellipses describes that the actual path followed by the planets was flattened
circles.
9. Kepler formulated his laws of planetary motions through B rahe’s data. The third law of planetary m
10.

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 References

2017. Astronomical Phenomena Known to Astronomers before the Advent of Telescopes.

https://lagmandana.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/astronomical-phenomena-known-to-
astronomers-before-the-advent-of-telescopes/.
2015. Diurnal Motion. Accessed 2020.
https://www.scribd.com/document/384085533/Diurnal-Motion.
2016. Finding Our Place in the Cosmos: From Galileo to Sagan and Beyond. Accessed
2020. https://www.loc.gov/static/collections/finding-our-place-in-the-cosmos-with-carl-
sagan/articles-and-essays/modeling-the-cosmos/ancient-greek-astronomy-and-
cosmology.html.
2018. Galileo disproved the belief that the sky the moon. Accessed 2020.
https://www.coursehero.com/file/p76qgqe/Galileo-disproved-the-belief-that-the-sky-
the-Moon-and-the-Sun-are-perfect-and/.
2019. Greek Astronomers. Accessed 2020. http://astro-andy.eu/FamousAstronomers/greek-
astronomers.
2018. Johannes Kepler’s Discoveries from Tycho Brahe’s Collection of Astronomical Data.
https://rizannegallanongo.wordpress.com/2017/11/23/johannes-keplers-discoveries-
from-tycho-brahes-collection-of-astronomical-data/.

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