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Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid ActivityDetermining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid Activity
Publisher
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Math
4 more...
Resource Type
Activities & Projects
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
1 hr
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
2 more...
Technology
Calculator
Year
2014
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Activity

Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid activity also includes:
  • Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid — Summary (HTML)
  • Student Handout
  • Join to access all included materials

Two different groups of scientists published scientific papers in 1980 offering proof of a large asteroid hitting Earth between the Cretaceous and Tertiary layers of ground. Scholars use a worksheet to analyze the same type of data as that used by the original scientists. They determine the size and energy of the asteroid based on the amount of iridium in the layer.

3 Views 1 Download
CCSS: Designed

Concepts

asteroids, mass, kinetic energy

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Review parts per notation before the lesson, or pupils may struggle from the start
  • Discuss the differences in the assumptions on the worksheet versus the original research

Classroom Considerations

  • Relies on prior knowledge of exponential notation, parts per notation, how to calculate the volume and surface area of spheres, how to use density to determine mass, and kinetic energy

Pros

  • Includes two worksheets of varying difficulties
  • Provides an answer key

Cons

  • None

Common Core

HSN-Q.A.1 HSA-SSE.A.1.a HSA-CED.A.4 RST.9-10.1 RST.9-10.8 RST.11-12.1 RST.11-12.8 WHST.9-10.1.a WHST.11-12.1.a MP2 MP4

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