Astronomy — Spring 2011

Students had time with the Macs in class to complete the solar diameter activity report. They were introduced to the drawing function in order to insert their own diagrams.

Screenshot of drawing function in Google Docs.

Shorter periods for a flex day. Quiz on the Sun and then time to complete diagram about cause of the tides.

Student were given time in the computer lab to work on their reports for the activity where they found the diameter of the sun.

Period 1 had class in the planetarium where we discussed the influence of the Moon and the Sun on the tides. Both spring and neap tides were covered.

Viewed and took notes on the History Channel’s Universe series piece called “Secrets of the Sun.” Wonderful images of the solar surface and sunspots. Did you know that the high temperature of the solar corona may be due to sound energy from the sun?

Students completed their solar diameter apparati and cleaned up work on Stellarium eclipses (see 4-7-11 and 4-8-11) and the Sun microviewer activity (see 4-13-11). Any corrections on the sunspot graph (see 4-14-11) should be made and the graph resubmitted via Moodle. Now all we need is a sunny day!

Solar Diameter Apparatus

Pinhole in Al to project image

Sun's image projected here

Day 2 of Sunspot graphing. Students completed questions and then submitted the graph and data via Moodle. Students watched the video below (available for in school and out of school viewing on the Moodle) to prepare for the activity next week.

Students began to work on Sunspot Graphing Activity using Excel. Make certain you save your file properly. Go to Desktop then to HS Student. You should be in YOUR network files at this point. Consider creating a folder for each class (ie. ASTRONOMY). Name your file using the proper protocol (LastFirs Keyword Teac#). For the sunspot graph it would be SmitJohn Sunspot Whit1. Can you see the “butterfly” effect in the diagram below? What does this tell you about sunspots? What is the periodicity for sunspots? Do sunspots go from min to max in the same amount of time they go from max to min?

Students began study of the Sun with Microviewer #404 while listening to background music (all Sun related). Tomorrow we meet in computer lab 207. Fun to see the sun as the disc it really is!

Students went outside to view the sun using solar eclipse glasses. Completion of  Smartboard Notes 4-6-11 Solar Eclipses. We discussed total, partial, and annular eclipses. What is the cause of an annular eclipse? Moon test on Tues 4-12-11.