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Precession
Students explain how Hipparchus, around 130 BC, used a shift in the predicted location of a lunar eclipse to detect a slight shift in the path of the Sun around the sky. They examine the elliptical orbit in which the Earth travels around...
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Coordinates
Students use cartesian coordinates (x,y,z) in 3-dimensional space. [Optional: appreciate there exist two ways of defining the z axis, and which of them is used.] They become familiar with the tools and terms used by surveyors.
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Navigation
Students study the basic methods for finding one's position on Earth. Latitude can be deduced from the height above the horizon of the pole star or of the noontime Sun, while longitude requires an accurate clock giving universal time.
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The Sundial
Learners explain the design, principle and orientation of a sundial, the type with a gnomon pointing towards the pole of the heavens. They construct a model sundial from paper.
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Stargazers And Skywatchers
Students recognize the daily motion of the Sun across the sky, defining the main directions of east, west, south and north. They see how the first calendars were based on changes in the Sun's noontime elevation, and on locations of...
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Pulsar Stars And Black Holes
Students explore the discovery of pulsar stars, and the characteristics of pulsar stars. Theories and ideas behind black holes are discussed. The issues of women's historical role in science are also touched on.
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Stargazers and Skywatchers
Students observe the daily motions of the sun and relate them to the functions of a sundial. They determine the locations of sunrises and sunsets and determine how the elevation of the sun effects temperature.
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The Path of the Sun: The Ecliptic
High schoolers investigate the celestial sphere and the paths it takes in the solar system.
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Finding the Pole Star
Students study the constellations fo the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia and their use in finding the Pole Star. They realize that other celestial objects--Sun, Moon and planets--share the rotation (and hence rise and set), even though their...
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Science
Third graders study light and shadow, participate in mirror activities, and build a periscope.
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May Earth be Revolving around the Sun?
Ninth graders explore how Aristarchus used the position of the half-full Moon to estimate the distance to the Sun, and how he made a great error, but still figured out that the Sun is much larger than Earth.
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Graphs and Ellipses
Students explore linear graphs, the parabola and the rectangular hyperbola.
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Kepler's Third Law
High schoolers use Kepler's third law to derive the velocity in a circular orbit of any radius, and identify the Earth escape velocity.
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Clean Air
Students observe gas molecules in the atmosphere absorbing the light that goes through them.
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Water in the Air
Students simulate how clouds block radition and how water in the air condense around containers.
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Particulate Sampler
Students estimate the extent of particulate air pollution present in their neighborhoods.
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Heat Currents
Students using a slide made out of aluminum foil and pin holes observe visible light.
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Simple Spectroscope
Students make a spectroscope out of simple materials and are expected to view as many different light sources as possible to see the whole spectrum.
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Projecting Spectra
Students use two methods to show and study the colors in the visible spectrum.
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Analytical Spectroscope
Students using a spectroscope view different substances when heated with electricity.
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Water Prism
Students using a glass prism filled with water are able to see all of the visible colors found the sunlight.
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Wavelength and Energy
Students using a rope and other materials explore wavelengths and frequency. If time permits, more experiments can be tried.
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