8.18.09 Tuesday:
Handout: Course Policies & Procedures;
Student Questionaire;
Chamberlain Observatory Lab Requirements; Student
Questionaire; Starfield Interpretation Activity
Collected: Book Cards
Classwork: Intro, books, homework, starfield
activity;
Homework: (Due Tuesday 8.25.09) Read Prologue
p 1-20; p 21 T&F
1-10; F-I Q 1-10; Problems Q 1,2,5,7,10.
8.19.09 Handout: Lab Safety Contract
Collected: nothing new;
Classwork: students worked on the starfield
activity; afterward we
had a class brainstorm about the information we can gain
from studying the picture. Guided practice measuring the
angles of the startrails and converting them into the time the
camera shutter was open to take the photo.
Homework: complete the questions on
p 21 of the prologue for Fri.
Quiz policy
8.21.09 Handout: Solar vs Sideral Day;
Collected: Starfield Activity
Classwork: Opener: Quiz Policy; Solar vs Sideral
Day WS
class discussion about perspective, rotation, revolution
magnetic field radiation protection, reversals.
Homework: finish the chapter 0 assignment
p.21; finish the solar &
Sideral
day.
8.24.09 Monday
Handout: Celestial Sphere
WS; Seasonal Stars WS;
Collected nothing
Classwork: Explain Celestial Sphere,
Demo Model; Alitiude &
Azimuth, Right Ascention and Declination; Explain Seasonal
Stars assignment.
Homework: finish the p 21 test review
questions-due Tomorrow,
complete Celestial Sphere and Seasonal Stars for tomorrow
8.25.09 Tuesday
Handout Planisphere Construction; Planisphere
Worksheet;
Collected: nothing today
Classwork: We went over the answers to
chapter 0 questions,
including the math problems
Homework: Read Chapter 1, p 23-40;
p. 40 T&F Q 1-12; p 41 Q 1-12
Due
9.9.09
8.26.09 Wednesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: chapter 0 review questions p.20
& 21
Classwork: finished going over the problems
from ch 0, explained
ecliptic
plane, earth motions calculated speed, circum-
ference of orbit.
Homework: complete the seasonal stars paper
8.28.09 Friday
Handout: Planisphere construction packet;
planisphere worksheet;
Collected: nothing new
Classwork:
explained the planisphere construction and appear-
ance, then build the planisphere during class,
Homework: complete the worksheet using
the planisphere tonight
8.31.09 Monday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: explained how to use the planispherre
in conjunction
with the worksheet; explained circumpolar stars, summer
triangle (asterism) seasonal use of stars like spring's
position of the big dipper at 12 oclock on a clock face.night
motion of constellations and yearly changes of constellation
position. estimating angles on the planisphere starfield.
Homework: finish the worksheet. due Tuesday.
Explained how
students should work on the night observation packets using
the planisphere.
9.1.09 Tuesday
Handout: Seasonal Stars; The Ecliptic
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: The class worked with guidance
through the packet
while detailed explanations were provided on the Seasonal
Stars packet and the Ecliptic Activity
Homework finish up the Ecliptic WS part
3
9.2.09 Wednesday
Handout: Vertical Rays of the Sun
Collected: Seasonal Stars and The Ecliptic
Classwork: finished the last part of
the Ecliptic WS, Demonstrated
a gyroscope and a spinning wheel, discussed the use of a
gyroscope on a rocket or satellite or Hubble Telescope
guidance. Related the gyroscope effect to the spinning Earth
and maintaining the axis of rotation orientation toward the
north Star regardless of the positionj of the Earth in its
yearly revolutionary path around the Sun.
Homework: Finish the Vertical Rays of the Sun packet
by Friday's
class.
9.4.09 Friday
Handout: nothing new
Collected Vertical Rays of the Sun
Classwork: We went over Earth- Sun Relationships
(Earth's geogra-
phic lines, circles, angles. Then we went over the vertical
Rays of the Sun Packet
Homework: reminder chapter 1 text assignment is
due 9.9.09
9.8.09 Tuesday
Handout: Modeling the Reason for Seasons
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: the class did the lab sheet, answering
questions 1-4,
the procedures A through F; Students who did not bring a
calculator should complete the calculations and graphs
tonight. We also did a starwheel activity as a warm up.
Homework: students are to complete Discussion Questions
1-7
tonight for homework and be sure the chapter 1 assignment
on p 40 and 41 are completed and turned in tomorrow.
9.9.09 Wednesday
Handout: Parsecs
Collected: Reason for the Seasons packet
Classwork: Starwheel activity as
a warm up emphasized azimuth
and altitude and setting time and zenith possibilities, and
alpha star and constellation name. We went over the six
remaining
questions in the packet and eliminated a few
misconceptions from childhood about the earth's orbit shape
and sun's distance verses seasons. We then began the
parsec worksheet with some background information.
Homework: Quiz Starwheel Friday. the
Chapter 2 paper will be
collected on Friday.
9.11.09 Friday
Handout: quiz Planisphere Use
Collected: Quiz Planisphere; The Parsec
Classwork: quiz Planisphere today during class;
via guided
instruction and the overhead, the class finished the Parsec
class
activity
Homework: Read chapter 2, p 43-66: p.
67 T & F Q 1-15, p 68-69,
Q 1-15. Due 9.23.09 Wednesday.
9.14.09 Monday
Handout: Characteristics of Earth's Orbit,
Investigation 18
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: Returned quizzes and other graded
papers
We
began the investigation of ellipses lab activity, we drew
three ellipses on graph paper and discussed how to calculate
the eccentricity of the three ellipses we drew.
Homework: measure the distance for the three foci AB,
CD, EF and
measure the length of the three major axes in centimeters
as well. Place the values into the three formulas one on the
two
top corners of the graph paper and one on the bottom left
corner.
9.15.09 Tuesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: Investigation 18
Classwork: we completed Investigation 18, calculated
eccentricity,
calculated earth's eccentricity, compared to other planets
eccentricities, evaluated the sun's angular diameter,
compared to the month of the year and distance from the Sun
reanalysed the relationship to orbital position and season
Homework: nothing new, just finish the chapter 2 assignment. D 9.23
9.16.09 Wednesday
Handout: Focused Discussion: Sunrise Points;
Investigation 25-
What events
mark the beginning of each season>
Collected: Sunrise Points
Classwork: We did the Sunrise points in class today
and discused
sunrise vs sunset points and solar path across the sky. Stu-
dents started the Investigation 25 in class.
Homework: The investigation is due on Friday.
I'll be available in
class if you need help.
9.18.09 Friday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: we went through the Investigation
25 WS during class,
almost finished it.
Homework: Be sure it is finished for Monday.
9.21.09 Monday
Handout: Path of the Sun; Predicting Lunar Phases
Collected: Path of the Sun
Classwork: We completed Path of the Sun; the class
viewed the
short concept video phases of the Moon, we learned that the
synodic month was 29.5 days, we learned the positions of the
earth, moon, sun for crescent, 1st and 3rd quarters, gibbous,
new, and full moon., the percent of lunar surface constantly
illuminated, the view from space of the system to the phase
as viewed from the earth.
Homework: The class was assigned to complete
for tomorrow the
handout "predicting the Lunar phases.
9.22.09 Tuesday
Handout: Calculating the angle of the Sun
by Measuring the sha-
dow.
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: During class we did a prelab for
the sun's angle activity
We did the activity, students's are to do three more measure-
ments today this afternoon and evening and bring the data to
class tomorrow. We also began to summarize terms used
to
describe lunar phases: gibbous, crescent, waxing and
waning and we did the first four questions on the worksheet.
Homework: finish the solar angle activity.
Quiz Friday.
9.23.09 Wednesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: Predicting Lunar Phases.
Classwork: We talked about the generalizations
we can make
about the relationship between time and shadow length,
shadow length and ratio value, and ratio value and sun
angle. Students expressed that some did not get the values
because of the rain on Tuesday and today and I gave them
until Friday to get the gnomen shadow data.
We went over the questions on the predicting Moon Phases
paper
and explained the relationship of time in the synodic
month to lunar phase; we also discussed the relationship
between the lunar position (phase) and the time of rise and
set.
Homework: Finish the gnomen lab for Friday.
9.25.09 Friday
Handout: Earth Motion Lab; Earth-Sun Relationship
Collected: nothing new, although the gnomen lab
should be in now
Classwork: Today's lab consisted of using a model
for the Sun ( a
light source) an earth with the equator, and Earth sphere with
Tropic
of Cancer, and Capricorn, arctic and antarctic circle, &
and axis, and mount block to deal with concepts about
seasons,
earth lighting, terminator position, day vs night
length.
Homework: Complete any unfinished questions in the Earth
Motions
Lab (most
completed it); then use the experience to visualize
the
Earth-Sun Relationship packets for Monday.
9.28.09 Monday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: Earth Motion Lab
Classwork: The class went over the lab from
last Friday using draw
ings on the board for explanations. We also reviewed part
of
the Earth-Sun Relationship before running out of time.
Homework: Be usere the Earth-Sun relationship activity
is done for
tomorrows class.
9.29.09 Tuesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: Earth Motions; Investigation 25
Classwork: We went over the remaining questions
on the Earth
motions
WS then we finished the remaining questions on
investigation 25 before they were collected.
Homework: study for a test over chapter
0 & 1 plus the handouts.
Right now I anticipate the test will be Wednesday.
9.30.09 Wednesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected:nothing new
Classwork: power point What is new in astronomy
started today.
Homework: study for the test.
10.2.09 Friday
Handout:nothing new
Collected:nothing new
Classwork: power point What is new in
astronomy finished today
Homework:study for the test
10.5.09 Monday
Handout: Ancient Greeks
Summary Packet; Ancient Greeks WS;
Kepler's Laws of Planetary motion Online Worksheet
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: class notes
Aristotle, Aristarchus, Ptolemy, Coperni-
cus, Galileo history of the development of the model of
the solar system from geocentric to heliocentric; the
meaning of the word planet in Greek and the reason why
it was named that way; Ptolemy's deferent and epicycle;
to
explain retrograde motion of planets; and galileo's
heliocentric model to explain retrograde motion and
planet phase and brightness and size differences,
Computer lab to work on the Kepler's ZLaws worksheet.
Homework: complete
Kepler's Laws worksheet for class tomor-
row; Test chapter 0 (prologue) and chapter 1 and hand-
outs scheduled for Wednesday. It will also cover the lab
and classwork handouts.
10.7.09 Wednesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: Greek
AStronomy Worksheet; Kepler's Laws ONLINE
WS;
Classwork: students
worked on the test during class.
Homework: Read
chapter 2 p 43-66; p67 T&F Q 1-15; p 67-68 FI
Q 1-15, Due Wednesday 10/14/09 Any incomplete tests
should be done either tomorrow 3rd or 7th.
10.9.09 Handout:
Collected:
Classwork:
Homework:
10.12.09 Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: Light powerpoint
Homework Read chapter
2 p 43 - 66; p 67 T&F Q 1-15; p 67-68
FIQ 1-15. Due Wednesday 10:14
10.13.09 Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: Light Power
point
Homework: don't forget
the home work that is due for Ch 2.
10.14.09 Handout: Galactic Stuff in Color plus Red and Blue starfield
wedgie
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: Presented
a set of photo negatives of a starfield
taken through red and blue filters.
Denonstrated how to take measurements and collect data
for hte stars labeled b- K
Homework:
chapter two should be finished reading and the
T& F Q 1-15 and Fill - Ins 1-15 should be done.
students should complete the data gathering for the stars
through K on the chart, stop at temperature.
10.19.09 Monday
Handout: Filter Lab
Collected: nothing
yet, but the Galactic Stuff in Color.
Classwork: We
finished the color index lab and used the color
index values to determine the star color and surface temp-
erature. Then answer the questions after completing the
data chart. We just began coloring the left column of the
filter lab data chart.
Homework: Quiz Wednesday,
color index lab using the wedgie.
Be
able to duplicate the same process used to do the lab
and be able to answer questsions. Finish coloring the
chart with color pencils for tomorrow.
10.20.09 Tuesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: Tonight
the Orionid Meteor Shower, at peak ~3 am
~60 per hour; earlier in the eventing will be far fewer/hr
Lab Demonstration today, we calculated the speed of light
using the microwave and marshmallows and the formula:
velocity = frequency (taken from the microwave label
@2450MHz multiplied by the wavelength of the microwave
~
0.12m: calculated velocity of light 194,000,000 m/second
Our percent error calculated out to 1.9 % The actual value
should have been 299,792,458 m/sec, rounds to 300.000 km/s
Homework: finish the predictions
for the filter lab. Quiz Color
Index
lab this week ...hint, hint, hint.
10.21.09 Wednesday
Handout: Chapter 2 powerpoint
notes
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: We worked on
the Filter Lab using the red and blue
filters and color pencils, do the observations.(short period)
Homework: complete
the analysis questions on the back of lab
10.23.09 Friday
Handout: Light
- Interactive Online Tutorials for Astronomy;
Self-Evaluation of Grade Status for Science
Collected: Light -
Interactive Online Tutorials for Astronomy
Filter Lab also.
Classwork: reminder
to attend the DU Chamberlain Observatory
Public
Open House - it is a 100 poing Lab Project-Heads up!
not
doing it will result in an F for 35% of your grade.
During class we went to the computer lab and completed
the online Light tutorial and questions.
Homework: get grade report
signed and complete the Self eval-
uation of Grade form for Monday.
10.26.09 Monday
Handout: Kirchoff's
Law
Collected: Parent signed
grade report; Self evaluation grade
form. Kirchoff's Law of Spectra
Classwork: The observation
night for Chanberlain Observatory
was
too overcast to provide an opportunity for the dome to
be opened and not any of the telescopes were set up
due to the weather conditions.
Homework: nothing new assigned.
10.27.09 Tuesday
Handout: Types of Spectra;
Analyzing Spectra
Collected: parent signed
grade reports and self evaluation
grade form.
Classwork: we are collectively
working on both handouts in
together
in class using the overhead projector.
Homework: nothing new
10.27.09 Wednesday
Class cancelled, early
dismissal due to snow storm. See you
Friday.
I am in 321 Thursday for help and make up.
10.30.09 Friday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: continued
powerpoint light: Stephan-Boltzman's Law
Wiens Law; creation of emission spectrum, (emission of
photons when excited energized electrons return to their
previous orbital level) creation of absorption spectrum
when the electrons absorb energy that they would
normally emit, creating an absence of energy of specific
frequencies. These concepts were modeled during class.
notes were put on the board to explain these points and
Black Body curves were explained, and the Doppler Effect
Homework: nothing
new, chapter 2 should all be read and the
review
questions completed. for the T& F and Fill-Ins.
11.2.09 Monday
Handout: Blackbody
Spectrum
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: classroom
demonstration of the CU physics inter-
active internet site Blackbody spectrum at
spectrum/blackbody-spectrum_en.html
The
class began the blackbody handout through 6
Homework: Finish the
rest of the quesstions in the packet for
classtime on Tuesday. Read chapter 3 p 71-95, p 95-96
T&F q 1-15; p96 FIQ 1-15; Due Monday 9.9.09
11.3.09 Tuesday
Handout: Stephan-Boltzmann's
Law
Collected: Blackbody
Radiation
Classwork: used the
overhead to explain the questions from last
night's homework; Began Boltzmann's Law paper; returned
the chapter 0-1 Test and went over it in class, recollected
for future review.
Homework: Finish the
Boltzmann's Law paper, Read Ch 3 p 71-
95; p95-96 T&F Q 1-15, p 96 F_I Q 1-15 Due Monday, 11.19
11.4.09 Wednesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: worked on Stefan-Boltzmann's
Law paper
Homework: finish the last
question, draw the point and explain.
Read chapter 3 by Monday. We will collect the Law paper
on Friday.
11.6.09 Friday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: Stefan Boltzmann's Law
Classwork: powerpoint Telescopes
Homework: read chapter 3, do the
questions assigned last
Tuesday.
11.9.09 Monday
Handout: Telescope Powerpoint
notes, chapter 3
Human Eye Resolution Lab, Resolution chart (to be returned)
Collected: Stefan-Boltzmann's
Law Activity
Classwork: powerpoint
ch 3 resolution,diffraction, Light gather-
ing, magnification, focal length; Students completed the
data gathering for the human eye resolution lab working
with partners.
Homework: complete
the write up: hypothesis, data tables,
conclusion and analysis questions Due Tuesday for class.
11.10.09 Tuesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: We almost
completed the powerpoint for chapter 3
Telescopes
Homework:
finish the test questions assigned for chapter 3
11.11.09 Wednesday
Handout: Telescope
Packet Worksheet, Telescope Packet
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: students
worked in groups to complete the questions
in the Telescope powerpoint packet.
Homework: complete
the unfinished questions in the telescope
worksheets for Friday
11.13.09 Thursday
Handout: Planet orbital
Positions packet
Collected: Telescope
Packet Worksheet and Telescope Packet
Classwork: we went
over multiple questions from the packet,
ranging from question meanings to explanations and
relationships; we also explained the meanings of
inferior planets, superion planets, inferior and superior
conjunction,
conjunction and opposition as well as planet
phases
as seen from earth of the various planets.
Students began to work in pairs on the questions in the
packet.
11.16.09 Monday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing
new
Classwork: papers
returned; explanations were made about
epicycles and retrograde motion and phases were shown
to be a way to disprove the epicycle model by Ptolemy
after the telescope was invented. We also talked about
the morning and evening "star" concept with greatest
eastern and western elongation and quadrature. Student
teams worked on the packets to answer the questions.
Homework:
Remember this is now in chapter 4; Read chapter
4, p.99-123; Do questions 1-15 T&F; p 123-4; p124 Q 1-15
Fill-Ins.
11.17.09 Tuesday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: everyone worked
on the Planetary positions sheet
until 2:05, then we began going over the concepts.
Homework: Read chapter
4 and do the fill-in. Don't forget the
observatory night is Saturday the 28th. If you want to go
on
a Tuesday or Thursday you need to get reservations in
online ASAP.
11.18.09 Wednesday
Handout: Planetary Motions: An
Introduction.
Collected: nothing new, I'll wait
until Fri for the Planetary Posi-
tion packet.
Classwork: explained how
to interpret the graphs of motion
to identify retrograde and prograde motion, the rate of
angular motion, the angular distance between the Sun and
the two planets. We have just one more question to finish.
Homework: Read the chapter
4, p 99-123 On p 123-24 Do the TF
questions
1-15 and Fill-in Q 1-15 also.By !!/23 Monday.
11.20.09 Friday
Handout: Major Motions of
the Planets
Collected: Planetary Motion
an Introduction.
Classwork: we finished explaining
how to calculate degrees of
motion per day for the Sun, the inferior and superior
planets.
Homework: work on the Major
Motions of the Planets packet
11.23.09 Monday
Handout: planet cards
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: prelab explained
terms axial inclination,
Inclination of orbit, Computer lab research the planets amd
complete
the planet cards using these sites:
Homework: Chapter 4
should be read and the end of chapter
T&F and Fill-Ins should be done by tonight, 11.23.09
11.24.09 Tuesday
Handout: planet cards (for those
absent Monday)
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: continue to collect
the data to complete the data for
each planet card;
Homework: no homework; enjoy Thanksgiving!
11.30.09 Monday
Handout: nothing new
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: comets powerpoint
presentation to class.
Homework: nothing new
12.1.09 Tuesday
Handout: Pomets WS
Collected: nothing new
Classwork: finished comets powerpoint;
started meteor power-
point
Homework: nothing new
