Like a phoenix, planetary nebulae rise from the ashes of a star's demise. Young science scholars view stars in the white dwarf phase and the planetaries that sometimes occur in the aftermath. The video explains the composition of planetary nebulae, the conditions under which they form, and the unusual shapes the swirling gases create. 

Concepts

stars, the sun, fusion, behavior of gases, quantum mechanics, planets, exoplanets, mass, electrons

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the video as a hook to open a lesson about the life cycle of stars
• Call on prior knowledge of the Pauli Exclusion Principle in classes that have taken Chemistry; otherwise, distribute a handout that details the rules that govern electrons

Classroom Considerations

• Provide a recap of star processes and the death of stars before viewing the resource

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Beautiful images of nebulae are captivating and engaging
• Careful scripting makes even the quantum mechanical aspects of white dwarf stars manageable for viewers

Cons

• None