HowTo: How to Explain Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation to a Precocious 10-year-old?

[youreavinalaff]

On 2/29/2024 at 2:52 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Excuse me, Mr. C., however, I think this suggestion of yours is just far too dumbed down for my super-smart 10-year-old Chinese students.

 

How long has it been since you taught a precocious 10-year-old?

 

Over a generation ago, at least, I would imagine.

 

And, since that time, the Flynn Effect, which I am sure you know something about, has proven true, once more.

 

Children, especially in China, are getting smarter, by the generation.

 

So, Mr. C., maybe there truly is hope for the future, for the future of these smart children, and I hope so.

 

Every day, I am amazed at just how smart some of these children truly are.

And, as I say, their understanding of the world, and their ability to do insightful analysis of their reality, is FAR and Away, beyond what I recall was typical of most children when I was growing up.

 

But, of course, there were some kids, like Chomsky, back in the day, who were smarter than the kids, these days.

 

Still, Nim Chimpsky was the exception.

And, he remains the exception at age 95.

 

Chinese students are amazing.

They can stay focused in class for 90 minutes, and think nothing of it.

 

The Asians are taking over the Natural Sciences at American universities.

While, the Americans are escaping into the Social Sciences because they are easy.

 

Don't take my word for it.

 

IF a Chinese eight-year-old can stay completely focused in class, for 60 minutes, then you know that it will be the Asians who will do the very hard work in American universities.

 

There are no better students than the young Chinese students.

 

Wait an see.....

 

I am just paraphrasing Richard Smalley, of Rice University.

 

Don't blame me, Mr. C.

 

Gamma....

 

 

 

That explains everything. The kids are smarter than the you. That's why you are on hear getting advice. 

Edited March 13 by youreavinalaff

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/29/2024 at 12:01 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

What do you think might be the best way to explain the concept of INFINITY to a 10-year-old?

For a start, the universe is finite. Everything composed of matter ends, eventually.

 

That must be a very strange 10 year old to even be serious about it, and perhaps they are not serious about it, just curious.

 

IMO any attempt to explain it will be too complicated for a 10 year old. Try diversion.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/29/2024 at 7:48 PM, ABCDBKK said:

here's the kicker: the universe isn't just a playground, it's also a timeline, with a beginning, a middle, and, well, maybe an end.

Given that all matter degrades, and ceases to function, eventually, there must be an end, though my take is that black holes consume all the matter and compress it into the next Big Bang.

I could be wrong and this universe just dies and dead planets keep expanding into infinity.

I'd rather believe in constant renewal, at least till the universe creates an actually intelligent species.

 

As for Gamma, just take the kid to a planetarium.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 2/29/2024 at 6:01 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

HowTo: How to Explain Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation to a Precocious 10-year-old? 

There are lots of educational websites on the internet for different age groups 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Given that all matter degrades, and ceases to function, eventually,

 

Are you, by chance, referring to....

 

ENTROPY?

 

 

[nikmar]

On 2/29/2024 at 11:44 AM, sirineou said:

Hint, Penzias , Willson ,  Background Noise 

 

Wasnt that in the 40's? Im not too sure. 

 

I think the general idea of a big bang was being kicked around in the 20s by a Lemaitre (Belgian???).

 

i vaguely remember reading something like this.