History of Astronomy

Post date: Nov 6, 2019 1:36:17 AM

Big Question: How did astronomers find that the sun is at the center of the solar system?

Assignments

Objectives

    • Compare different models of the solar system.

    • Apply Kepler's laws to our solar system.

    • Explain the two main variables that determine the force of gravity between stars and planets.

    • Describe how the Solar System formed.

    • Explain the conditions that would cause one object to orbit another.

Warm-ups

11/19 - Look over the History of Astronomy Review. Then look over your notebook and assignments. Write down at least 2 questions you have? 11/19 - What is a space probe? What are examples of space probes that were used before the moon landing in 1969? (ES pgs. 489 to 491)11/18 -

11/15 - Draw the 6 cannon ball orbits on the screen. Which paths are suborbital? Which paths are orbital?

11/14 - What is a force? What metric (SI) unit is used when measuring force? (ES pgs. 123-126)

11/13 - What are the two main types of optical telescope? How does each work? Which one did Mr. Bright bring to class?

11/12 - In your notebook:

  1. Make an ellipse with two thumbtacks, string, and a pencil.

  2. Label both focus points, the major axis and the minor axis.

  3. Draw the sun at one of the focus points.

  4. Label the Perihelion and Aphelion.

  5. Describe the motion Kepler's second law says will happen at the Perihelion and Aphelion.

11/8 - Why was it so important that Kepler First Law is that orbits are ellipses? Kepler’s First Law of Motion - Elliptical Orbits (Astronomy) - youtube.com

11/7 - Make a Venn diagram comparing revolution and rotation. (Old ES pg. 515)

11/6 - Name 6 important astronomers in history? Summarize what each one did or discovered. (Old ES pgs. 486-488)

11/5 - Answer the following: (Old ES 482-483)

What is a calendar?

What defines a year?

What defines a month?

What defines a day?

Why is a Leap Year required every 4 years?

  1. What are Newton's Three Laws of Motion?

  2. Draw a rocket.

  3. How does Newton's 3rd Law explain how rockets work?

  4. How can we use a rocket to get a satellite into orbit?

Keywords

  • Geocentric (IS pg. 467)

  • Heliocentric (IS pg. 468-469)

  • Ellipse (IS pg. 509)

  • Satellite (Old ES 549)

  • Orbital Velocity (Old ES 601)

  • NASA

  • Sputnik (Old ES 602)

  • Thrust (Old ES pg. 600)

  • Escape Velocity (Old ES pg. 601)

  • Newton’s Third Law of Motion

  • Rocket

  • Inertia (physicsclassroom.com)

  • Constellation

  • Horizon

  • Zenith

  • Ecliptic

  • Parallax (Old ES pg. 575)

  • Retrograde Motion

  • Revolution

  • Rotation

  • Solar system

  • Telescope

  • Period of Revolution

  • Law of Universal Gravitation

Websites

Uncle Al's Sky Wheels - Lawrencehallofscience.org - Paper star finder we assemble in class.

How to use a star finder - youtube.com

Planetarium - neave.com - App that works like a star finder.

Astronomy Simulations and Animations - astro.unl.edu - Simulations and Animations from Astronomy Education at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Not working in Google Chrome. Will work in Firefox.

Kepler’s First Law of Motion - Elliptical Orbits (Astronomy) - youtube.com

Kepler’s Second Law of Motion (Astronomy) - youtube.com

Understanding Kepler's 3 Laws and Orbits - youtube.com

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion - youtube.com

My Solar System - phet.colorado.edu - Configurable simulation showing gravitational relationships and motion among multiple objects.

Gravity and Orbits - phet.colorado.edu - Simulation demonstrating how mass and distance between objects effects the force of gravity.

Gravity Force Lab - phet.colorado.edu

Gravity Pitch Gizmo - explorelearning.com

Solar System Explorer Gizmo - explorelearning.com