Index of SOHO Lessions (Grades 9-12)

Contents

• How Far Away Is SOHO?
• Composition of Solar Wind
• Differential Rotation of the Sun
• Solar Wind Velocity
• Coronal Mass Ejection Velocity and Acceleration
• Convection Cells

How Far Away Is SOHO?

• Activity: How Far Away is SOHO?

  • A measuring and scaling activity, appropriate for grades 6-12.
  • Students compare, using proportion, and model distances from Earth, the Moon, SOHO, Venus, and Mercury to the Sun.
  • Key Words: L1 LAGRANGIAN POINT, GRAVITATIONAL PULL, KILOMETER, ORBIT

• Activity 1: What are the Relative Abundances of the Elements?

  • A review of the periodic table, appropriate for grades. 10-12
  • Students review periodic table and define isotopes.
  • Students compare abundance of elements and isotopes on Earth.
  • Key Words: PERIODIC TABLE, ELEMENTS, ISOTOPES, ABUNDANCES

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• Activity 2: Calculating the Wavelength of Light

  • Use of diffraction gratings, appropriate for grades 10-12.
  • Students use diffraction gratings to calculate the wavelength of light.
  • Key Words: DIFFRACTION GRATING, WAVELENGTH, SPECTRUM, SPECTRA

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• Activity 3: Spectral Analysis of the Elements Using a Diffraction Grating

  • Use of diffraction gratings, appropriate for grades 10-12.
  • Students use diffraction gratings to examine several light sources and compare their spectra.
  • Key Words: DIFFRACTION GRATING, WAVELENGTH, SPECTRUM, SPECTRA

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• Activity 4: Spectral Analysis of the Elements

  • Analysis of Spectra, appropriate for grades 10-12.
  • Students examine and compare several printed color spectra.
  • Key Words: WAVELENGTH, SPECTRUM, SPECTRA

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• Activity 5: SOHO Data Analysis

  • Analysis of data from the CELIAS instrument on SOHO, appropriate for grades 10-12.
  • Students answer prescribed questions from CELIAS graphs on abundances of elements in the solar wind.
  • Suggestion for research project.
  • Key Words: ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION, ABUNDANCES, GRAPHS

• Activity:

  • Tracking active regions on the sun from EIT images, appropriate for grades 6-12.
  • Suggestion for Independent research.
  • Key Words: DIFFERENTIAL ROTATION, LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, POLES.

Solar Wind Velocity

• Activity:

  • Students interpret CELIAS solar wind velocity graphs and EIT solar images, appropriate for grades 6-12.
  • Suggestion for Independent research.
  • Key Words: CORONA, MAGNETOSPHERE, GALACTIC WIND, COSMIC RADIATION, MAPPING.

Coronal Mass Ejection Velocity with Acceleration

• Activity:

  • Students measure the velocity and acceleration of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) using data from SOHO/LASCO. Can use the program NIH Image. Appropriate for grades 9-12.
  • Suggestion for independent research.
  • Key Words: CORONA, SOLAR WIND, CORONAL MASS EJECTION, SOLAR ACTIVITY

Convection Cells

• Activity:

  • Classroom demonstration of Convection. Appropriate for grades 9-12.
  • Key Words: CONVECTION, ENERGY TRANSFER, SOLAR GRANULATION

Sun Based Lesson Plans from Other Sources