In this lesson the ellipse is studied in polar coordinates (r,f), with the function cos(f). This places the origin point at a focus (more appropriate for planetary motion) and introduces the eccentricity e. It is also noted that planets actually orbit the center of gravity of the solar system and that distant planets may be detected by motions of their central star around the centers of gravity of ... Full description.

This tutorial on the three types of energy transfer (radiation, convection, and conduction) describes the different kinds of energy, insulators, conductors, R-values (resistance to heat transfer), and the use of straw-bale walls. Example data and a video clip on straw-bale wall experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are included. There are classroom project ideas such as: how different animals ... Full description.

This introduction to coordinates on a sphere explains how latitude and longitude define locations on Earth, and similarly, how declination and right ascension define locations on the celestial sphere. The lesson also introduces systems of time-keeping, e.g. local solar time, time zones, universal time and the International Date Line. The objectives are for the student to know how any location on Earth ... Full description.

This article discusses the results of a mathematical study on how efficiently the energy of the sun is converted into fossil fuels. It points out that plants convert the sun's energy in to carbon, which is the basic constituent of natural gas, oil, and coal. However, the process is inefficient in that only about 9 percent of the carbon in the original plants is converted into the form of coal, and ... Full description.

The Fermilab Flora and Fauna Exhibit provides information on wildlife phenomena commonly found at Fermilab, in Illinois, such as: bird nests, beavers, buffalo, Canada geese, deer, fungi, lichens, poison ivy, insects (including prairie insects in winter), red-tailed hawks, and woodchucks. A section on math patterns in nature explains what Fibonacci sequences, golden numbers and angles, and fractals ... Full description.

This feature introduces younger students to our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Topics include its size and shape, where our solar system is located in it, the origin the name, and how many of its stars we can see from our vantage point on Earth. There are additional features that emphasize the vast size of the galaxy and the large numbers (billions) used to describe it, and a question-and-answer feature ... Full description.

This lesson introduces "pre-trigonometry," the estimate of the distance to a far-away point. Students will use "pre-trigonometry" to calcuate distance and will use the "thumb method" of estimating distances in the field and understand the reason it works. Finally, they will understand how astronomers used the diameter of the Earth's orbit around the Sun as a baseline for estimating the distance of ... Full description.

In this lesson students explore Kepler's law and planetary orbits. This is the fifth in a series of interactive student lessons from the Martian Sun Times. Full description.

In this lesson, students will learn about sampling through an investigation of rocks found in the schoolyard. This will provide a start to understanding everyday statistics. They will first collect and analyze a sample of rocks from the schoolyard and array the collected rocks by characteristics such as size, weight, and color, to see if any generalizations can be made about the types of rocks that ... Full description.

This lesson covers basic methods for finding one's position on Earth. Latitude can be deduced from the height above the horizon of the pole star or of the noontime Sun, while longitude requires an accurate clock giving universal time. The student will understand how finding one's local longitude requires comparing local time with universal time (UT), which may be obtained from an accurate clock, possibly ... Full description.