Handout
NASA

Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory: Ocean Tides and the Earth's Rotation

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of the effect that the tides have on the Earth's rotation.
eBook
Harvard University

Harvard University: Eye on the Sky, Feet on the Ground

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
An ebook filled with information and classroom activities covering several astrological topics such as the Earth's rotation and the solar system. Many tips and teaching tools are available to aid in discovering what the sky has to offer.
Website
Other

Precession of a Gyroscope and of the Earth's Axis

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes and calculates the precession of a gyroscope and also discusses the precession of the Earth's axis. Includes several pictures, diagrams, formulas, and details.
Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

Illustrative Mathematics: G Mg Tilt of Earth's Axis and the Four Seasons

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This task gives students a chance to explore the effects of the Earth's tilt and rotation using a simple geometric model of Earth-Sun interaction that shows why the seasons occur. Aligns with G-MG.A.1.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Foucault Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a detailed description of the Foucault Pendulum and how it works. It was originally built to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth.
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Meteor Showers

For Students 3rd - 8th
This video segment adapted from NASA uses animation to illustrate the properties of meteor showers and comets. Included is are visualizations of a comet's tail and of Earth passing through a debris stream left behind by meteoroids.
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Virtual Pendulum

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive activity from ZOOM offers a chance to experiment with a virtual pendulum and to see how it can be influenced by a variety of factors.
eBook
Libre Text

Libre Text: The Coriolis Force

For Students 9th - 10th
The Coriolis force is a central element of the dynamics of ocean and atmosphere flows.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Heliophysics: New Science of the Sun Solar System Connection

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA lists common and uncommon misconceptions about Sun-Earth Science. Site also provides links to activities and lesson plans as well as background reading.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Gyroscopic Effects: Vector Aspects of Angular Momentum

For Students 11th - 12th
From a chapter on Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum in a Physics textbook. This section of the chapter explains how to use the right-hand rule to determine direction for angular velocity, momentum, and torque. Also discusses the...
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Giving Rise to the Jet Stream

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive activity from NOVA Online uses animation and graphics to offer a detailed explanation of the jet stream. A thorough account is given of the role played by the Sun's heat and Earth's shape and rotation, among other factors.
Unit Plan
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Foucault's Disk

For Students 9th - 10th
Leon Foucault, a French physicist much better known for his pendulum demonstrating the rotation of the Earth, also created in 1855 a device that illustrated how eddy currents work. (Java tutorial)

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