This text belies the folk wisdom that water twirls down the toilet clockwise due to the Coriolis force. It even explains that the Coriolis force is not a true force after all and merely an effect. A unique explanation of the Coriolis Effect on large masses of moving air over the surface of the Earth and, by extension, ocean currents is provided. Full description.

In their investigation of Hudson Canyon sediments, students will discover how sediment size is related to the amount of time the sediment is suspended in water. During this activity, students will investigate and analyze the patterns of sedimentation in the Hudson Canyon off the Atlantic coast of North America. They will observe how heavier particles sink faster than finer particles, learn that submarine ... Full description.

In this activity students will plot the location of the north magnetic pole for the last 2000 years on a map and explore how it has changed location. They will discover that before igneous rocks cool and harden, the liquid magma is acted on by the magnetic field of Earth and that this causes some of the iron atoms in the rock to align with the magnetic field and "point" toward the North Geomagnetic ... Full description.

In this activity, students will measure the profile of a stream, determine its current velocity at various locations, and examine the sediment on the stream bottom. They will examine the relationships between stream profile and flow velocity and between sediment grain-size and flow velocity. They will also produce a vertical profile of a stream and be able to map as well as define thalweg, point bar, ... Full description.

This is an education and outreach site for The Space Science Institute, whose mission is to integrate scientific research with education and public outreach. Their research program includes earth science, space physics, planetary science, and astrophysics. As part of their program, they create instructional materials and classroom activities. This site is divided into five sections: Amazing Plasmas, ... Full description.

More than 155 planets have been found outside of our solar system since the first discovery in 1995, mostly massive Jupiter-like planets in orbits close to their suns. Now, to find an Earth-like planet, scientists are looking for a planetary setup that is similar to our own, in which a Jupiter-like planet lies a good distance away from its sun. This video segment explores how the arrangement of planets ... Full description.

This resource provides a textual explanation as well as animated illustration of elliptical orbits with different eccentricities. It also shows how the Sun is at the focus of an ellipse, and some of the math behind elliptical orbits. Beginner, intermediate and advanced versions of the content are available. Full description.

This computer activity provides information that will allow students to extend their understanding of basic physical concepts that apply to the study of black holes. They will see how physics and mathematics are used to predict the existence and properties of invisible objects. The assessment component is designed to provide students with an opportunity to practice communicating results of their Internet ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 9-12. It focuses on nuclear reactions, specifically fusion which creates energy on the Sun. Other types of reactions are radioactive decay and fission. Students look at these different types of reactions and learn about how they happen, and specifics about the Sun such as solar flares, neutrinos, and solar energy. It ... Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about stars including star statistics, and a star gallery. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth and Space sciences and includes a rich array of documents, ... Full description.