Embedded Files
UNIT 5 - Planetary Science
Unit test for Planetary Science will be on Wednesday December 7, 2016
Crater Lab Due Friday December 9
Space Technology Symposium Dec 1, 2016
On your course CD, Files and notes for Unit 5 - Planetary Science - are designated by the number 8
Animation Links
Gravity and Orbits - PhET animation showing force of gravity and path of a body around the sun
My Solar System - PhET showing orbital paths and ellipses formed based on initial velocity vector
UNIT OUTLINE WITH ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS - Click here to see the full table.
Unit Notes, Labs and Handouts - Check here for documents posted to Google Drive for this unit
There will be three assessments in this unit beyond the unit test
WEB LINKS
Orbital Debris - Image of debris
Current Tracking
Solar System Scope is a great on line planetarium software with a mobile app for your phone
StationBenefits - A full breakdown of the scientific and cultural benefits of 18 year of the ISS
TEST PREP
The "Test Break Down" file below illustrates the mark assignment for each portion of the test and some topic suggestions for what to study.
Use the TEXT MATRIX to determine the balance of topics in the unit
1 - Meteorite impact crater lab. To be conducted on March 26 and submitted by April 2. Check out the video link to the stories about the Russian Meteor.Some craters looked good enough to eat!
See some videos of student meteorite impacts from March 2013. Meteorite 1, Meteorite 2, Meteorite 3 - In #3, the students solved the problem of how to get the marble out and measure their crater by using a metal ball and having a magnet on hand to retrieve it!
2 - Space Technology Fair. Students will research and present on various technologies used in the exploration of space. Presentations will be in the form of a stand alone display/model or poster. Check this handout for instructions and evaluation sheet. Project Outline. Sign up HERE for your topic! For a little inspiration, check out this VIDEO about Transparent Aluminum - 4 minutes
Star Gazing BONUS: Head outside and check out the effects of planetary motion as observed in the night sky. Check out the assignment outline here.
3 - SCALE PLANETS & BODIES - Click HERE for the description of the assignment and the rubric. Click Here to go to the document where you can sign up for your planetary body, enter data on your body and use the spreadsheet to calculate the relative depths. The rubric for the assignment is included in the data table!
To find information on some of the planets, check the "Universe" entry from the Britannica Encyclopedia of Science. Also, watch this Fun Video (5 minutes)about the comparative sizes and distances of the 9 planets(like the grade 9 project)
HANDOUTS - For in class lessons
Gravity and Tides - Summary Notes attached below from class.
VIDEOS - Aristotle Proves the Earth is a Sphere - despite placing the Earth at the center of the universe, Aristotle did get a few ideas right. Sarah Mount did an impressive job of summarizing his proofs for her "Paradigm Shift" assignment in March 2013!
Parallax:Earth revolves around the Sun - Jessica explains how observations of stellar parallax prove that the Earth revolves around the sun - March 2019
Catastrophes that Changed the Planets - You Tube link to History channel video explaining origins of Solar System - 44 minutes
Astronomical Detective Work - How did amateur astronomers track the path and properties of the Feb 15 Russian Meteor
The other Moon - What would the phases of the moon look like if we were looking at the OTHER SIDE of the moon//
The NEW Pluto - See what New Horizons learned in 2016
Gravity Visualized - How can we demonstrate the effects of gravity according to general relativity. Modeled onto a 2D lycra sheet! 10min
ARTICLES
Earth's Formation - More insight into the formation of the Earth and moon through a massive collision
Moon Rocks - Chinese Rover finds evidence of lunar history - May 2019
New Moons Around Jupiter - 2018 - astronomers stumble upon a new collection of moons around the gas giant.
Rings around Dwarf Planet - October 2017
How Spaceflight Changed this Cosmonaut(879 Days) - April 2018 Scott Kelly (1 year)
Scientists train for what it will be like to live on Mars - Analogue Research - May 2018
Curiosity finds Building Blocks of Life - June 2018
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