THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE

Background

Scientists believe that the Universe is expanding. Let's see what this means for the distances between Earth and the stars.

What You Need

1 light colored balloon
1 ruler
1 clothes pin
3 markers in different, dark colors

What You Do

1. We'll use a balloon to represent the Universe. Blow up the balloon to the size of an egg. Twist the end and hold it closed with the clothes pin.

2. Make a dot for the Earth. What color did you use? ______________

3. Using a different color, make a dot 1 inch away from the Earth. This will be a nearby star. What color did you use? ________________

4. Using the last color, make dots all over the balloon to represent stars all over the Universe. What color did you use? ______________

5. Let the Universe expand by blowing up the balloon until it is the size of your head. Twist the end and hold it closed with the clothes pin.

6. What is the distance between Earth and the nearby star that you marked in a special color? ________________ inches Is this closer or further away than at the start? _________________

Think About It

What happened to all of the stars?

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If you could make time run backward, the Universe would contract rather than expand. Where would all of the stars end up?

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