NASA
A Glimpse of the Most Distant Galaxy
For this most distant galaxy activity, students use a Deep Field image taken by the FORS camera at the ESA-VLT observatory to answer 4 questions about the redshifts identified in the field. They use an on line redshift calculator to...
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The Battle for Ultimate Power
Students gain an understanding of how the powers of 10 and scientific notation can be used to represent the scale of things in the universe. They relate the number of stars in the universe to the number of grains of sand on Earth's beaches.
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Scale Activities
How do you put something as large as the universe in perspective? Use a series of scale experiments. Classmates collaborate around four experiments to examine the scale of the earth-moon system, our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy,...
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Time That Period
Physical science starters play with a pendulum in order to experience periodicity. Detailed procedures and a worksheet are included for day one. For day two, learners will use a graphing calculator to help them plot orbit data from a...
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The Milky Way: A Mere Cloud in the Cosmos
In this galaxy worksheet, students calculate the volume of the Milky Way Galaxy, they determine the total mass, the density and the volume of the Milky Way Galaxy. They also solve 2 problems about the volume and size of the universe in...
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How Many Stars in the Milky Way?
Students perform an experiment in which they will use a statistical method called `sampling' to count to a billion (and beyond). Students practice sampling by estimating the number of characters on a page from the classified section of a...
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How Many Quasars Are There?
For this quasars worksheet, students read about how astronomers can detect quasars by their luminosity. Students use a given equation to solve 4 problems including finding quasar magnitude, determining the number of quasars with given...
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The Universe-Scientific Notation Extension
For this scientific notation worksheet, students write a set of 9 average distances in standard form, then complete 3 additional problems. A reference web site is given for additional activities.
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Scientific Notation III
In this scientific notation worksheet, students solve 10 problems where they multiply and divide numbers using scientific notation and they express their answers with the proper number of significant figures.
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The Drake Equation
High schoolers use the Drake Equation to calculate the probability of sustaining life on various planets. Through the use of the equation, they determine whether intelligent and advanced civilizations can be developed on planets other...
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The Energy of Empty Space
In this energy in empty space worksheet, students use an equation for Cosmic Inflation to solve eight problems. They find the domain and range of the function of the equation, they determinethe axis of symmetry, they find the critical...
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Time Intervals
For this time intervals worksheet, students solve 8 problems where they determine the time gamma-ray bursts last, the time black hole micro-flares are emitted, the time coronal mass ejections travel and the days between lunar phases of...
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Working with Rates
In this working with rates worksheet, students solve 9 problems where they find the rates, they solve 5 problems where they find the rates for compound units and they solve 5 problems where they find the rates using scientific notation.
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Teachers' Notes: Switch Gets Ready!
Students practice multiplication facts, answer simple math questions from two, five, and ten times-tables, explore concept of halves and quarters, complete worksheet containing range of shapes to make shape picture, and sort data and...
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Pea Brain! Explorations in Estimation
Young scholars estimate how many peas fit in a container. In this science lesson, students calculate the weight of a pea and record it. They use this data to calculate how many peas fit in a human brain.
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Astronomical Scales
Students describe the different units of measurement. In this space science lesson, students calculate astronomical distances using a scale. They explain the significance of using scientific notation in expressing very small or very...