FROM THE SUN… TO PLUTO…

AND BEYOND…

Nancy Sills

sills-n@harris.k12.ga.us

WHEN I BECOME A TEACHER… http://aim.hamptonu.edu/outreach/AK-2

007/handouts/fun_files/AppleTeachers.mov

HELIOPHYSICS EDUCATOR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM http://aim.hamptonu.edu/hea/

ON THE FENCE

What do you know?

THEMIS

– Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms

Video of THEMIS http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/themis/flash.html

THE SUN Electromagnetic Field

MAPPING MAGNETIC FIELDS You should have: 1 large piece of paper 1 cow magnet 2-3 compasses Writing implementProcedure1. Place the compass on the middle of

the paper and trace around it. Draw a dot somewhere near the magnet and place the center of the compass over the dot.

MAPPING MAGNETIC FIELDSProcedure1. Place the compass on the middle of the paper and

trace around it. Draw a dot somewhere near the magnet and place the center of the compass over the dot.

2. Draw a dot at eh location of the arrow head of the compass needle

3. Move the compass from the paper and draw lines connecting the dots with arrows indicating the direction that the compass points.

4. Remove the compass from the paper and draw lines connecting the dots with arrows indicating the direction that the compass points.

5. Continue steps b-d until the line meets the magnet or edge of the paper

6. Pick another spot near the magnet and repeat the processes.

SOLAR WINDS EFFECT ON EARTH http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource

/ess05.sci.ess.eiu.solarwind/

SOLAR SYSTEM EDUCATOR http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ssep/ http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/educ/index.

cfm

CLUSTER The four Cluster spacecraft are

providing a detailed three-dimensional map of the magnetosphere, with surprising results

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=8

UV RADIATION How much do you get?

UV BEADS1. On you paper number 1-5- skipping 2 lines

between each.2. Observe each bag and write down your

observations. 3. On the back of your paper – answer these

questions:4. Which bag has the lightest color beads?5. Which bag has the darkest color beads?6. Why do you think there is a difference?7. Looking at the bag with the sun glasses

covering them and the regular glasses. What is the difference?

TIMED A Mission to Explore One of the Last

Frontiers in Earth’ Atmosphere The TIMED (Thermosphere Ionosphere

Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) mission is studying the influences of the Sun and humans on the least explored and understood region of Earth's atmosphere - the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere (MLTI).

http://www.timed.jhuapl.edu/WWW/index.php

IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM Impact craters Cake Batter Lava Moon Phases Climate Cycles Let’s make a cloud. It’s Alive

IMPACT CRATER1. Look at the photographs of the Moon, how do

you think the craters were formed?2. What do you think are factors that affect the

appearance and size of craters and ejecta?3. What does this “lunar” surface look like before

testing?4. Measure the mass of the first impactor and

record it on your Data Chart.5. Drop impactor #1 from a height of 30 cm.6. Measure the diameter and depth of the

resulting crater. Count the rays, measure, and determine the average length of all the rays.

7. Record the information on the Data Chart and repeat the procedure varying the drop height as instructed on the Data Chart

IMPACT CRATERS What does the data reveal about the

relationship between crater size and velocity of impactor?

What does the data reveal about the relationship between ejecta (ray) length and velocity of impactor?

If the impactor were dropped from 6 meters, would the crater be larger or smaller? How much larger or smaller? (Note: the velocity of the impactor would be 1,084 cm/s)

CAKE BATTER LAVA

Materials: Cake batter Large mixing bowl, preferably with handle and

pouring spout Wire whisk Large spatula Baking sheet or wooden drawing board with a 10-

cm grid on it Protractor Stopwatch Tape measure or ruler

Procedure: - see handout

MOON PHASES - OREO

Materials: 4 oreos 1 plastic spoon 1 paper plate Oreo handout

Make the Oreos look like the handout and place them on the paper plate and label them.

CLIMATE CYCLES Materials

Multicolored mini-marshmellows Dark colored granular material – like M&M’s, chocolate

chips, or coca Core straw made out of a 2liter bottle 1- liter bottle (Hand sanitizer or wash hands if you are going to eat any of the items after the lab.

) Procedure

Discuss how the marshmallows are put in my a handful or two- this is the amount of snowfall for a season. Heavy in winter, less in summer. The M&M’s are a volcanic eruption (ash).

Press down on the layers and then add more “snow” and “ash.” Press down until it is fairly packed

Take the core sample by pressing down with the core straw and examine the core. Share yours with another group and determine the layers and what happened during the “time period.”

LET’S MAKE A CLOUD Materials: Two 2-liter bottles with connected lids 125ml of water Wooden stick matches Flashlights or projector Procedure: See handout

IT’S ALIVE http://aim.hamptonu.edu/outreach/AK-2

007/handouts/fun_files/aliensong.mpg

What does it mean to be “alive?”

IT’S ALIVE Materials: Three samples labeled A, B, & C Procedure: Observe the three samples. You may smell,

touch, the samples but not taste them. Record what you observe on the handout.

Get a cup of warm water and pour the water so that each sample is covered with water.

Record your observations on your handout. Wait 5-10 minutes and observe the samples.

AIM – AERONOMY OF ICE IN THE MESOSPHERE

Exploring clouds at the edge of space

http://aim.hamptonu.edu/index.html

NEW HORIZON New Horizons is on its way to Pluto,

which it should reach it in 2015.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html

…AND BEYOND

Dwarf Planets Video on NOVA

THE PLUTO FILES http://video.pbs.org/ http://video.pbs.org/video/1425502261/

DWARF PLANETS Observe the pictures and then answer

the questions on the handout. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/301000main_D

warf_Planets_Guide.pdf

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/301001main_Dwarf_Planets_Activity.pdf

http://ibex.swri.edu/educators/index.shtml

MORE STUFF…

build your own mission:http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/edu_game/

Astro-matic 3000 http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Astro-Matic_3000.html

Let’s fly away http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/clubhouse/Lets_Fly_Away.html

Make your own - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Lets_Fly_Away.html

Put it together puzzle - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Put_It_Together.html

THANK YOU! Be sure to contact me if you have any

questions.

sills-n@harris.k12.ga.us

http://sillsscienceworkshop.wikispaces.com/