Scale in the Universe

Engage - How Big is the Universe?

• Watch: How to make an EdPuzzle Video [6:01].  

• Create an EdPuzzle  of this Powers of Ten Video with 5 or more questions and/or annotations of various formats.

Explore - How well can you estimate, rank, and organize?

• Predict far away do you think the Earth will be from the Sun, if the Moon were the size of a single pixel on your screen. using the app: "If the Moon were a Pixel".  Describe  misconceptions that arrive from  familiar representations of the solar system.

• Organize this list of items from smallest to largest.  To re-order the list, click on the row number and drag to the appropriate location.

• Estimate the the length of your room and width of your room after reviewing Estimates and scales.  Measure  and compare with measurements using LIDAR (Measure) [Video: 1:08]. 

• Develop a scale of your choice for a model of the system .  Using this scale, create a KML  (example) overlay for a mapping program such as Google Earth, illustrating the relative dimensions (distance from sun; diameter, etc.) of solar planets in the Solar System plotted on a map of your neighborhood. Additional KML files.

Explain - When do we use logarithmic scales on graphs?

• Explain when and why we use scientific notation after watching  Why do we use Powers of Ten - Scale in the Universe [17:51].  

• Compare and contrast the wavelengths of em radiation (radio, microwave, IR, visible, UV, X-ray, gamma) using " Scale in the Universe"  AND "UniverScale (Nikon)" 

• Plot the  frequencies and wavelengths of forms of electromagnetic radiation on linear and log scales, and explain why and when phenomena should be plotted using logarithmic scales?

• Graph frequency and wavelength  inear and log-linear formats.  Provide a link to your plots and describe when we should use log scales. 

Elaborate - Why do we use scientific notation for calculations?

• Slides: SI System, Scientific Notation

• Watch these videos on dimensional analysis

  • • System of Units [33:24] 

    • Straight Line Approach in Dimensional Analysis [6:52]

    • Dimensional Analysis- Fundamental Units - Relationships  [13:22]

    • Dimensional Analysis - example from Chemistry   [16:43]

    • Dimensional Analysis - example from Space Science [12:34]

    • Discovering Physical Laws Using Dimensional Analysis  [13:21

• Watch these videos on scientific notation

  • • Scientific Notation  [9:29]

    • Scientific Notation - Estimating Values [13:53]

• Estimate complex calculations using scientific notation.  

• Create a brief video showing how to do calculations with a Slide Rule after watching this Video: Doing math with a slide rule  [6:11]

Evaluate - How can we collaborate to represent scale in the Universe? 

• Complete this Desmos activity on scale in the universe

• Create your own Desmos activity and share the link after reviewing these videos:

  • • • Developing an interactive formative assessment activity with Desmos [16:23]

      • Desmos - Developing a card-sort activity [5:35]

      • Desmos - Developing a sorting activity  [1:48]

      • Desmos - Sketching activity [1:26]

      • Desmos - Graphing calculator activity [1:48]

      • Desmos – watching student model development in real time [2:22]

• Create a "Powers of Ten" slide show that shows scale in the Universe from the smallest to the largest items ever observed after watching "Creating a collaborative slide show:  Powers of Ten" [11:13].  Collaborate in teams using this template.