Unit Ten: Planets and the Solar System
Embedded Files
What will be graded:
What will be graded:
In Class - IBEX pre and post video worksheets
In Class - Exoplanet Hunter (Gates: 5 Ways to Find a Planet)
In Class - Plotting Planets
In Class - Scale Model of the Solar System
In Class - Retrograde Motion
In Class - Planet Presentations
Star Date:
Star Date:
Use this link to listen to the 2 minute podcast. Keep a journal record of the topics discussed.
Exoplanet Hunter
Exoplanet Hunter
Using the data for your target star, determine the transit time for your exoplanets. The transit time will reveal the orbital period (time to orbit the star) for each exoplanet.
5 Ways to Find A Planet
5 Ways to Find A Planet
links:
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/ways-to-find-a-planet/ (Part 1)
Exploring the Trappist-1 System (Professor Dave explains)
Plotting Planets
Plotting Planets
Using the data for your planet (you choose one planet to plot), plot a point for the Right Ascension and Declination for each date listed.. Use a smooth line to connect all the plot points to each other (example: first date connects to the second date, second date connects to the third date, etc...). THEN, answer the rest of the questions, using the information from the plot you made
To the right: Example of how you can "draw a R.A. Dec. chart if you can't print one out --------------------------->
the difference is you'll have to rewrite the R.A. degrees to represent the actual coordinates of the planet that you choose.
Below is a help video for plotting planets by Gates. (Tucek may have slightly different directions.) Use the pop-out function to view it more easily.
Gates Plotting Planets
Retrograde Activity
Retrograde Activity
In the plotting planets lesson, the planets seemed to do something odd. Place a rubber stopper on the paper to simulate the motion of Earth and Mars orbiting the sun. Take pictures or notice where Mars appears in relation to the stars during the orbit.
Scale Model: Solar System
Scale Model: Solar System
ACT 1: Picture of Neptune
What questions come to mind?
ACT 2: Determine the location of the planets along Route 130 with PTHS
Newton's Laws
Newton's Laws
Kepler was able to explain "How" planets moved around the sun. Newton was able to explain "Why" planets move they way they do.
Free Return Trajectory:
Space is warped differently for different masses -------------------->
Planet Project
Planet Project
Each group will watch a crash course video about a planet in our solar system. Complete the activity page and present the information about your planet to the class.
Gates' classes skip this section - watch the posted videos at the bottom of the page - as well as the resources - below to get specific information about how you can do your presentations!
Design A Planet
Design A Planet
Instructions: In A Google Doc (or other platform if you are working alone), create a solar system, a planet and a creature that conform to Planet Physics.
Using the "Planet Designer's Guide" as a rubric and instruction manual, follow a step by step process to create:
A star in a solar system (with a picture)
A planet in that solar system
A creature to live on that planet (with a picture)
You will create, calculate and derive characteristics for your solar system and establish cause and effect relationships for each characteristic you make.
Groups MUST collaborate in a Google Doc so that I can see who is working and making revisions (all of which is recorded by Docs). You must contribute to the group to get credit.
Video Link: How to collaborate and share in Google Docs
Assignment Files:
Direct link to "Planet Designer's Guide."
Gates' Planet example
It is actually a moon around a planet but still good for the project. I went waaay to far - you only need 1 planet, 1 creature or plant. Think of it as many examples. The Designer's Guide is your main Resource for directions. Follow the instructions and be awesome!
STAR LUMINOSITY Calculator (To replace the flash version on the worksheet)
<------- Check these guys out! On what kind of planet does each live? Hot/cold, big/small, dark/bright? Which is a Predator? How do you know?
Design a Planet - Help Videos.
Design a Planet - Help Videos.
You can choose the pop-out option to help play these more efficiently, if they don't work when you click on them:
Planet IntroUse Your DataChartWrite It UpChoose Your Star - Day 1Describe Your PlanetCalculate Luminosity and HZLife DesignSolar System DiagramPlanet CharacteristicsReport abuse