This lesson discusses the work of Tycho Brahe and his connection with Johannes Kepler. Students will receive an introduction to conic sections along with Kepler's laws and observe the mathematical formulation of the third law, and its explicit form for artificial Earth satellites. In addition, the student will confirm Kepler's third law by comparing orbital periods and mean distances for all major ... Full description.

This lesson provides an introduction (or refresher) of the concept of graphs in Cartesian coordinates, starting with graphs of a straight line and a simple parabola. It is part of a high school course on astronomy, Newtonian mechanics and spaceflight. The implicit relationship x2+y2 = R2 for a circle is given, and from that the Cartesian equation of an ellipse is developed. Students will learn or ... Full description.

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 lesson introduces students to Kepler's second law; that planets (and satellites) move fastest at their closest approach to the center of attraction and slow down when far away. This is made evident by calculating the ratio of greatest and smallest orbital velocities and by invoking the concept of energy. Students should acquire an intuitive understanding for the way orbital velocities vary along ... Full description.

This lesson presents an introduction to solar observations by eye or telescope and during eclipse. It also explores the distance to the Sun, its layers, the corona and the solar wind. Safety rules for observing the Sun are stressed as students are informed about the visible layers of the Sun - photosphere, chromosphere, corona. Students learn about the high temperature of the corona, the evidence ... Full description.

This lesson presents an overview of phenomena related to the magnetism of the Sun, in particular to sunspots and their 11-year cycle, solar flares and magnetic disturbances on Earth caused by solar activity. It also reviews briefly the connection between electricity and magnetism. Students will learn facts about the discovery of sunspots, their intense magnetism, and their 11-year cycle. They will ... Full description.

This lesson serves as an introduction to color and to both line spectra and continuous spectra, with applications to sunlight. It also explains how a glass prism resolves light into its rainbow components and the difference between spectral colors and the colors perceived by the eye. Students will learn that hot solids (or dense gases) radiate a continuous spectrum, related to their temperature. But ... Full description.

This lesson introduces students to electromagnetic waves, the concept of photons, and the relation between photon wavelength and energy. This is tied to solar observations at various wavelengths using the many types of electromagnetic waves. Students will discover that electromagnetic waves are a linked oscillation of magnetic fields and electric currents, spreading through space. They will also discover ... Full description.

This lesson discusses the Sun's corona, observed from spacecraft in the extreme ultra violet (EUV) and in x-rays, including coronal holes and coronal mass ejections (CME), their effect near Earth and their monitoring from space. This section also discusses related phenomena in interplanetary space and on Earth and contains an optional class exercise in which students learn about field line preservation ... Full description.

This lesson covers the generation of the Sun's energy through nuclear fusion, as well as some ideas about the evolution of stars like the Sun and their ultimate collapse, leading in some cases to supernova explosions. The section also acquaints the student with some fundamentals of nuclear physics. In addition, the lesson plan contains a supplemental section, which is a historical introduction to ... Full description.