This Why Files article investigates the neutrino particle, and why scientists are interested in finding them. The neutrino was 'invented' by a physicist to balance out an equation in the 1950's, and ever since, astronomers and physicists have been looking for these particles as traces to the early universe. The article looks at how neutrinos can be detected in Antarctica, and the universal clues they ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 9-12. It addresses the question of how astronomers know the evolution of a star without being able to see it happen. Students look at the different stages in the lives of stars, from protostars to red giants and black holes. The lesson includes objectives, materials, procedures, discussion questions, evaluation ideas, ... Full description.

This activity describes the basic structure of an atom using an edible model and explains the quantum mechanical nature of the atom. For example, originally, each electron orbital was pictured as having a specific radius, much like a planetary orbit in the solar system. However, the modern view is not so simple. Though each orbital does have a precise energy, the electron is now envisioned as being ... Full description.

At this site students are reminded that the study of atoms and their characteristics overlap several different sciences and that chemists, physicists, and astronomers all must understand the microscopic scale at which much of the universe functions in order to see the bigger picture. Students are also reminded of the structure of the atom and the meaning of the terms atom, element, atomic mass, atomic ... Full description.

This activity introduces two different representations of spectra: the photographic representation, such as the rainbow, and the graphical representation used more often by astronomers. A rainbow is often given as an everyday example of a spectrum. Most students have seen a rainbow, so this example is used to help make the unfamiliar more familiar. However, the spectra that scientists use, which students ... Full description.

This site contains a booklet about the life cycle of stars. The information covers the birth and ultimate fate of both sun-sized and massive stars. The stellar endpoint of sun-sized stars includes both white and black dwarfs while the endpoint of massive stars includes neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes. This site also contains seven activities which include model building and mathematical calculations. ... Full description.

This is a brief review of some of the fundamentals of stable isotope geochemistry, including definitions, terminology, basic principles, standards, and guidelines on reporting data. Users can follow the link on the top right for the periodic table and read about the isotopic systems of several dozen elements. 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.

In this activity, students determine the amount of heat energy released from a burning peanut and relate this experiment to a microcalorimeter. They will explore how light energy can cause a change in temperature and relate what they find in this activity to how a microcalorimeter works to produce a spectrum of light from an incoming source. Students will discover that, because it can measure very ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. It focuses on the mystery of black holes, discussing the three basic sizes and how the characteristics of each type make them different from other black holes. It includes objectives, materials, procedures, discussion questions, evaluation ideas, performing extensions, suggested readings, and vocabulary. There ... Full description.