Unit 8: Practical Astronomy, mini-project requirements

Hi all,

We are doing one last project - a presentation on objects in space using a night sky simulator.

Here are the requirements.  The project presentation will be on Tuesday, May 20th.

You may use stellarium or google sky.

Current Events in Astrobiology

Hi students,

Today you are going to find a current events article relating to the search for alien life in space.

You may use google or any search engine you wish.  You may also use http://phys.org/space-news/ or http://www.astrobiology.com/ to find an article that interests you.

Read your article, write a one paragraph summary, and email me the LINK to the article and the summary at james_trainer@dpsk12.org.

Here are some articles from students (you may not use these!)..

Kiki: In this article it states that 1,000 new exoplanets have been found. And because of the Kepler telescope in space has detected 3,588 planets in total! Thats only with one telescope, so there is a possibility of life on other planets. Also, this article is mainly just stating that the Kepler telescope is just searching a patch in the sky, that beyond our reach there is ET life out there.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/09/29/number-confirmed-alien-planets-nears-1000/

Juan: A group of British researchers sent up an balloon up to the stratosphere above England and when the balloon came back down they found living microbes on the balloon and the microbes were being supported by the environment of the stratosphere.  Other bacteria and lifeforms have been found high above planet earth. This alone can tell us that lifeforms can live in a more space condition with a very small fraction or poor like earth condition.

New Alien Life Claim Far from Convincing, Scientists Say

Nora:    In this article, they are investigating about the existence of life on exomoons. There has not yet been a discovery of an exomoon but they predict there is a possibility for life to exist if it has the right conditions, in the habitable zone. They believe there could me more exomoons than exoplanets. They are investigating how the climate of an exomoon will be affected by tidal stresses which provide a source of internal heating for the exomoon as it is stretched and deformed by the gravitational pull of its planet. They are also investigating how light reflected from the exoplanet, and eclipses by the exoplanet, can also subtly alter the exomoon’s climate.

http://www.space.com/25645-move-over-exoplanets-exomoons-may-harbour-life-too.html

Ashley:  Sceinetists have found what seems to be an ocean on Saturn's moon, Enceladus, and that gives them a possible thought that alien life could be there.Thought it is not the only moon to have water on it and possiblely extraterrisetial life. Jupiters largest moon is capable to have life as well.Though sceintists wonder "What coniditons are there suppose to be for life?" They still dont know the ocean's temperature. So it's still a mystery.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/03/ocean-enceladus-alien-life-water-saturn-moon

Astrobiology: Finding other Earths

Hi students!  Today we are going to learn about the search for exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system) that may support life.

Objective: SWBAT describe how the Kepler mission finds exoplanets and describe the criteria by which we assess the habitability of exoplanets.

Today's assignment:  You will be assigned a topic to research in a small group.  Visit the links below for your topic, gather information according to the guiding questions you are given, and prepare a very short presentation to describe your topic to another group.  Your presentation should contain at least one image, answers to the guiding questions, definitions for key vocabulary, and examples of scientific discoveries pertaining to your topic.  You should expect to speak to a group about your topic for 1 or 2 minutes.

Exoplanets
http://www.space.com/17738-exoplanets.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140417-exoplanet-interactive/#

Kepler Mission
http://kepler.nasa.gov/Mission/QuickGuide/howKeplerFindsPlanets/
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/esp/detection.html

Habitable Zone
http://www.pbs.org/lifebeyondearth/alone/habitable.html
http://www.hzgallery.org/

Goldilocks
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-goldilocks-clue-habitable-planets.html#nRlv
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29mar_goldilocks/

After your research and preparation time is up, you will get sorted into different groups to share your information.  During that time, you will complete this graphic organizer.

Unit 7: The Search for Alien Life, Day 1 - Fermi's Paradox

Hi students!

Now we are learning about aliens.  Awesome.

Today we are learning about Fermi's Paradox.  Enrico Fermi was a famous physicist who figured out that there has been enough time for intelligent alien life to colonize the galaxy, yet we cannot detect their presence today.  This is a paradox, which is a self-contradictory idea.

Here is a great visual explanation of Fermi's Paradox:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2apGYUX7Q0

Later on, another physicist checked Fermi's math and developed this formula:

This is the Drake equation.  When it was initially solved, using what we knew about the milky way galaxy in the 60's, the solution estimated that there should be 10,000 intelligent civilizations in the milky way galaxy.  Today, we know more about the milky way and the current solution is that there should be 0.08 intelligent civilizations in our galaxy.  This is weird because we know of at least 1.

Here is a great visual explanation of the Drake Equation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AnLznzIjSE

Mission to Mars Part 2

Hi students,

Today we are going to conclude watching History Channel's The Universe - Mars: The Red Planet.  Please continue developing your opinion as to whether or not a manned mission to Mars is feasible and likely to happen.

Here are a couple more resources to consider:

1. An article about a deal between Mars One and Lockheed Martin (an aerospace engineering firm): http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/one-way-manned-mission-mars-just-got-closer-reality

2. An article about a panel meeting in Congress to discuss proceeding with a manned mission to Mars:
http://phys.org/news/2014-03-house-panel-discuses-mars-flyby.html

By the end of class, please type a two-paragraph essay giving your opinion.  Make sure it answers the following questions:  Is a manned mission to Mars feasible?  What obstacles need to be overcome?  Do you think that this will happen in your lifetime?  Why do you think so?  Email or share your essay with me at james_trainer@dpsk12.org.  As always, you will be graded using the common core rubric for your grade level.  This is a 50-point quiz assignment.

Mission to Mars

Hi all,

One of the next logical steps in manned space exploration is to land on Mars.  This was the expected next step after we won the Space Race by landing on the Moon, but as we have learned, President Nixon opted to direct NASA's efforts towards the space shuttle instead.  There is now a renewed interest in pursuing the goal of sending a manned mission to Mars, but this will be an extremely expensive, difficult, and dangerous mission.

Objective:  Student will assess the feasibility of a manned mission to Mars in writing by considering the technological, financial, and medical obstacles that stand in the way of mission success.

Start by reading about the feasibility of the mission here: http://www.space.com/24268-manned-mars-mission-nasa-feasibility.html

Now, let's read about Mars One, a non-profit corporation that aims to establish a semi-permanent human colony on Mars in the 2020's.  Start with the "Risks and Challenges" page and then move on to familiarize yourself with their missions and timeline:  http://www.mars-one.com/mission/risks-and-challenges

After we have read these resources and discussed them briefly, we will get some basic background information on Mars and the trip there by watching the Nature Channel's The Universe - Mars: The Red Planet in class (you can also watch it on your own here).

Modern Space Exploration: The Hubble Telescope

This is our last week in Unit 6: Space Exploration.  We will be learning about modern (post-shuttle) efforts to explore space.  Our objective of the week is students will be able to describe current and future efforts to explore space, both within the solar system and in the universe beyond.

Today we are going to learn more about the Hubble telescope.  As we have learned, the Hubble owes its existence to the space shuttle program.  Only the shuttle could have launched, assembled, and repaired this remarkable instrument.  But why is the Hubble so special?  What has it taught us?  Let's take a look.

First, let's examine HubbleSite's Hubble Essentials page to learn the basics. How does the Hubble work?  Why did it need to be repaired?  Who uses it?  http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/

Now, let's learn more about the instruments aboard Hubble.  How are they different from one another?  What do they allow us to see? http://www.spacetelescope.org/about/general/instruments/

Finally, let's learn about some of the achievements of the Hubble.  What have we learned using the Hubble?

The famous XDF image: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/49168911/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/hubble-telescope-reveals-farthest-ever-view-universe/#.UzA6fqhdVyw

Finding exoplanets, which is important for our next unit on extraterrestrial life (you will want some headphones for this).  What are some of the different techniques for finding planets orbiting far-away stars?: http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/discovering_planets_beyond/ 

The Hubble has advanced our understanding of the origins of the universe, of how galaxies develop and change, and of how stars are born.  Learn about one more discovery of your choice here: http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/breakthroughs/

We will stop periodically to discuss your findings.  In the last 10 minutes of class, you will be asked to complete this mastery check.

Space Shuttle: Mistake or Triumph?

Today you will take a position on the space shuttle - was it a triumph or a mistake?  We have read quite a bit about the shuttle, but here are a few more articles to consider:

MISTAKE:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolpinchefsky/2012/04/18/5-horrifying-facts-you-didnt-know-about-the-space-shuttle/2/

http://launiusr.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/assessing-the-space-shuttle-a-thirty-year-mistake/

A statement from Alex Roland, a former NASA employee who issued a criticism of the shuttle program in 1985, BEFORE the Challenger disaster: http://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Documents/Congress/Senate/FEBRUA~1/roland_statement.html

TRIUMPH:

In the words of NASA employees: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/shuttle_station/shuttle_memories_prt.htm

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/space-shuttle-30-years-of-fascinating-facts/

BOTH:

http://www.space.com/12166-space-shuttle-program-cost-promises-209-billion.html

Now, make a decision.  Was the space shuttle a triumph or a mistake?  Take a position and explain your views with supporting evidence in an essay (3 paragraphs minimum).  Be sure to use specific information from the various sources we have read this week!  Email me your essay (it may not be handwritten) at james_trainer@dpsk12.org.

The politics of the space shuttle, continued

Sooooo let's pick up where we left off.  With Nixon.

First, here is President Nixon's phone call to Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong after they walked on the Moon:  http://www.history.com/speeches/nixon-calls-apollo-11-astronauts#nixon-calls-apollo-11-astronauts

How did Nixon sound?  Excited?  Bored?  Do you think he sounds like he supports the space program?

Finally, read about President Nixon's decision-making at the beginning of The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 9 (please stop when you get to "Space Shuttle: The Last Moves").

1.  How did Nixon perceive astronauts?  Why?

2.  How did Nixon's public statements about space flight differ from Kennedy's?

3.  What priorities did Nixon have for the space program?

We have learned that the Shuttle suffered a couple of high-profile disasters.  The Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Columbia disaster in 2003, combined with the high expense of the shuttle program (the cost was about 20 times more than the estimates), served to bring the shuttle program to the end.

The Challenger was launched in cold weather, despite warnings from engineers that some valves were not rated to perform below 53 F.  It ignited during liftoff when a pocket of gases ignited in the booster and burned through to the main fuel area.  You can see the live coverage of what was supposed to be a routine launch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfnvFnzs91s

The Columbia's wing was thought to be damaged by falling thermal tiles during liftoff.  NASA command ignored several requests for astronauts on board to conduct a spacewalk to inspect the damage.  It disintegrated during reentry.  You can see news coverage of the disaster here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1_bdSKEG3s

The idea of the shuttle was to be a device to bring scores of astronauts to and from a space station.  The idea of the space station was the product of science fiction and antiquated technologies.  We pursued the shuttle's development long after the development of satellites that could automatically perform functions for a long time without maintenance.  Was it a mistake to build the shuttle?  Let's consider the accomplishments of the shuttle program.

First, the Hubble telescope was assembled in orbit.  The Hubble was heavy and complicated, and it took several missions to build, maintain, and repair.  This device has helped us to learn much about the universe.  Read about the telescope here: http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/

What can the Hubble do that observatories on Earth can't do?

What were some of the most important Hubble discoveries?

Second, the International Space Station was built.  The shuttle was instrumental for building and manning the station.  Read about the station here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/onthestation/facts_and_figures.html#.Uymm6ahdVyw

SOOOOOO.. what do you think?  Was the Shuttle program a mistake?  A failure?  A success?  Tomorrow you will be asked to give your opinion and support it with evidence in an essay.  For now, please give your preliminary thoughts on the survey here.

SRB's, gravity waves, and 1970's politics

Hi all,

Before we get started, there are couple of curiosities we need to take a look at.

First we were wondering how the space shuttle's rocket boosters (Solid Rocket Boosters, or SRB's) are recovered after they fall off of the ascending shuttle.  Well, I figured it out.  You can read about it (and see it) here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Solid_Rocket_Booster#Descent_and_recovery

Second, there is a new piece of observational evidence that supports the big bang theory.  Scientists have found evidence of the existence of gravity waves, which are ripples in spacetime leftover from the inflationary period after the big bang.  During this time, the universe expanded faster than the speed of light, and scientists have long predicted that we should be able to detect evidence that this happened if we could observe distortions in a gravity field.  Much like the cosmic microwave background radiation is evidence that all matter was once evenly spread out and super hot, the gravity waves are evidence that our universe once expanded very rapidly.  You can read about it here: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/17/tech/innovation/big-bang-gravitational-waves/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 and here: http://phys.org/news/2014-03-hints-gravitational-big-afterglow.html

Now, down to business.  Now that we have learned basic information about the shuttle, including that it was arguably an overpriced failure, we are going to learn the history behind the decision to build it.

Please read from The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 1 (please stop when you get to the heading "Winged Rockets:...") and answer these questions:

1.  What was Wernher Von Braun's role in generating interest in the space shuttle?

2.  Why was the public interested in developing something like the space shuttle?

3.  What were the tactical military and scientific purposes for developing a permanent space station?

Now check out the beginning of The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 2 (please stop when you get to "Apollo Applications...").

1.  The space shuttle idea was always tied to the idea of a space station.  How did changes in technology alter the goals of the shuttle program?

2.  What type of equipment replaced the idea of establishing a space station?

Finally, read about President Nixon's decision-making at the beginning of The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 9 (please stop when you get to "Space Shuttle: The Last Moves").

1.  How did Nixon perceive astronauts?  Why?

2.  How did Nixon's public statements about space flight differ from Kennedy's?

3.  What priorities did Nixon have for the space program?

We will discuss each reading in turn in class today.

The US Space Shuttle

Hi students! This week we are learning about the Space Shuttle, developed by the United States, that was used in 135 missions over the course of 30 years from 1981 - 2011.  The shuttle was a huge accomplishment and has become an icon of space exploration.

Our objective this week:  Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the space shuttle as a space exploration tool in an extended constructed response essay.

To accomplish this objective, we have some daily goals:

Monday - Compare and contrast the shuttle to the equipment used in the Apollo missions.
Tuesday - Describe how political motivation influenced the development of the space shuttle.
Wednesday - Describe how the Challenger and Columbia disasters influenced US space exploration policy.
Thursday - Evaluate the effectiveness of the shuttle program by describing details of accomplishments and milestones in the program's 30-year history.

Today, we need to learn about the shuttle itself.  Please visit this nasa website first to learn about the history and the basic function of the shuttle:

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/shuttle_retrospective/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/the_shuttle/

Read Logsdon's "Was the Space Shuttle a Mistake?" article in Technology Review here: http://www.technologyreview.com/article/424586/was-the-space-shuttle-a-mistake/

Please answer the following analysis questions:

1.  What were the different parts of the space shuttle?  Which parts could be reused?  Which parts were not reusable?

2.  What could the shuttle do that the Saturn V rocket could not?  What were some differences between these vehicles?

3.  What were some important milestones in the history of the space shuttle?

4. What does Logsdon say are some of the advantages of the use of the space shuttle?

5. What are some of the limitations or disadvantages of the shuttle, according to Logsdon?

6. Why does Logsdon say that the shuttle program was a mistake?

After we discuss these as a class, please click here to complete the mastery check.

Quiz 6.3: October Sky response essay

Hi students!  Now that we have finished October Sky, I want you to reflect on what we have seen and compare it to what we learned last week.  We have learned the history of the space race between the US and USSR and October Sky tells the story of one man's reaction to the events of the race.  The history of the space race and the story of Homer Hickam are intertwined.

Weekly Objective:  Student will be able to describe the correlation between the events in Homer Hickam's life, as depicted in the film October Sky, with the history of the space race between the US and USSR in a written constructed response.

To accomplish this objective...

Write a two-paragraph analysis of how the events of the space race influenced Homer Hickam in October Sky.  Questions to consider are: What event inspired Homer to become a rocket scientist?  Who did Homer look up to?  What was the prevailing opinion of the USSR among residents of Coalwood?  What opportunities were available to young people in Coalwood?  How would Homer Hickam's life been different if the space race did not happen?

Please note that this is essay constitutes the entire quiz 6.3 grade.  I will use the common core writing rubric for argument to grade your essay.  Juniors and seniors, you can see your rubric here.  Freshmen and sophomores, find yours here.

Mr. Trainer's absent - Work on your outline and 10 notecards!

Hi guys,

I'm out sick today and I anticipate that I will be back tomorrow.  The 10 notecards and outline for your research paper were due today, but they are now due tomorrow at the end of class instead.  Please work on these things in class today.  Please help our guest teacher have a great day today.

Here is a link to Ms. Clarke's research essay mega packet, where you will find guidelines for how to develop your notecards and your outline.

Quiz 6.2 - Space Race

Click here to take the multiple choice quiz on the space race.


Don't forget that your essay is the other half of your quiz grade!

Apollo Missions

Objective: Student will be able to describe the details of the incremental achievements of the Apollo missions that culminated with the manned moon landing of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969.

Yesterday we learned about the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States that erupted after the Soviets launched Sputnik in 1957.  We know that the U.S. won the race by landing on the moon.  The moon landing was absurdly complicated because it required an extremely complicated rocket to get the astronauts off of Earth and beyond its orbit, travel to the Moon, land on the moon, allow astronauts to walk on the moon, take off from the Moon, escape its orbit, travel to the Earth, and then reenter the atmosphere and land safely.  The Apollo missions, and the Gemini missions that preceded the Apollo program, allowed the U.S. to learn how to do all of these steps in an incremental fashion so that they could all be carried out at once on Apollo 11.  There were setbacks for both the US and the USSR.

In January of 1967, all three of the astronauts on an Apollo 1 pre-launch test were killed by a fire in their oxygen-saturated capsule on the launchpad. Click here to see a news report about this disaster.

The Russians knew that this setback would give them time to catch up to the Americans.  Later that year, however, the Soyuz 1 capsule lost control in space.  The cosmonaut, Vladimir Komarov, ended up crashing to the ground at 400 mph after the parachutes and retro rockets failed.  Warning: disturbing footage - you can click here to hear the last radio conversation with Komarov before he died in the crash.

Assignment: Research the Apollo missions to determine how the missions that preceded Apollo 11 allowed us to land on the moon and win the space race.

Here is a list of the Apollo missions, along with their descriptions. - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo.html

NASA's Apollo Missions page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/#.Uw9X2eNdVyw

A reading from Space Race (Cadbury 2006) about the Apollo 1 and Soyuz 1 disasters:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9gJuG8LlES1amFacVFsMnJnQkdvY3Z2QnlqRnFHS20xTGdZ/edit?usp=sharing

Images from the Apollo and Soyuz programs from Space Race (Collins 1999):
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9gJuG8LlES1enhEdnQtRUVCUjBXdllGV3p4WEFCOEFzdVlj/edit?usp=sharing

A description of the missions and their impact from The Race For Space (Kuhn 2007):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9gJuG8LlES1cDNvZ1dYalV1RTFnd2tnNTB0clluU2JNMWVv/edit?usp=sharing

Quiz 6.2 Essay Assignment

As with last week, half of your quiz grade tomorrow will be based on an essay.  Explain what the space race was.  Explain who was involved, why they were involved, and what the outcome was.  Provide details about key figures, missions, accomplishments.  This essay requires a minimum of five paragraphs.  You must cite your sources in-text.

In-text citations

When you use information from a source within your writing, you must immediately cite that source.  Later in your paper, there is usually a works cited page that lets the reader know more information about your sources.  We will skip the works cited page because we are all using the same sources on this assignment.  Here is an example of how to use an in-text citation:

The Soviets encountered setbacks as well.  In 1967, Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Kamarov crashed full-speed into the earth aboard Soyuz I, killing him instantly (Cadbury 2006).

 Here is a list of sources that we have used this week, along with an example of how to cite them:

Space Race by Deborah Cadbury, 2006: (Cadbury 2006)
The Race For Space by Betsy Kuhn, 2007: (Kuhn 2007)
Space Race: The US-USSR Competition to Reach the Moon, Martin J. Collins: (Collins 1999)

NASA's The Apollo Program 1963 - 1972 website by David R. Williams, 2013, at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo.html: (Williams 2013)

NASA's Apollo website by Jim Wilson, 2013, at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/#.Uw9jzeNdVyx: (Wilson 2013)

NOVA's Space Race Timeline website by Rima Chaddha, 2007, at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/military/space-race-history.html: (Chaddha 2007)

TheSpaceRace.com's Timeline of Space Exploration website, 2009, at http://www.thespacerace.com/timeline/ (TheSpaceRace.com 2009)

PBS's Timeline: the Space Race website, 2005, at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/moon/timeline/ (PBS 2005)

Russian Space Web's Sputnik website by Anatoly Zak, 2014 at http://www.russianspaceweb.com/sputnik.html (Zak 2014)

NASA's Sputnik: the fiftieth anniversary website by Steve Garber, 2007 at http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/ (Garber 2007)

 

The Space Race

SWBAT describe the significant historical benchmarks that characterized the space race between the US and USSR.

Hook video: October Sky - reaction to Sputnik

After Sputnik awakened the US to the fact that the Soviets were more technologically advanced than previously thought, space fever swept the nation.  The US formed NASA and both the US and USSR set their sights on the Moon.  Sergei Korolev, the chief rocket engineer for the Soviet Union, was Wernher Von Braun's counterpart, but he was kept secret for fears that the US would attempt to assassinate him.  What followed was a long series of triumphs and tragedies, which culminated with our success when we landed on the moon (more on that tomorrow).

Timelines:

An interactive timeline with great visuals:  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/military/space-race-history.html
A slightly less interactive timeline with great readings: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/moon/timeline/
An extremely concise timeline that clearly specifies Soviet and US accomplishments: http://www.thespacerace.com/timeline/

Detailed readings:

Space Race (Collins 1999), pages 50 & 51 - shows images of Wernher Von Braun and his soviet counterpart, Sergei Korolev.

Space Race (Cadbury 2006), Chapter 14 - details chief engineer Korolev's development of the Soviet cosmonaut program and the Nedelin disaster, and Von Braun's Mercury program.

The Race For Space (Kuhn 2007), Chapter 3 - details the accomplishments of some of the first US astronauts.

Assignments:

Timeline - On a piece of printer paper folded in half (hot dog style), develop a timeline of accomplishments in the space race.  Put the US accomplishments on one side, the Soviet on the other.  Put the dates in the center.

Mastery Check 2.26 - Click here to take it.

Sputnik

SWBAT describe the historical and scientific significance of the launch of Sputnik, the first man-made satellite to orbit Earth.

Guided notes here.

Sputnik ("the traveler") was the first man-made satellite to orbit the Earth.  It was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957.  It was a very simple satellite, only 58 cm across, which emitted a constant repeating radio signal.  The utility of this satellite was limited - it allowed Russian scientists to make calculations about the density of the upper atmosphere because the drag slowed the satellite down measurably (as determined by tracking the radio signals).  The biggest impact from the launch of Sputnik was the response from the United States.  The US saw the Soviet Union as a backwater country full of farmers, and the satellite launch caught us by surprise.  We realized that the Soviet Union was more advanced than we thought, and we raced quickly to catch up.  Soon after the Sputnik launch, NASA was formed as a government agency to develop space exploration technologies.

Newsreel report on the launch of Sputnik: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsPKD4tNe-Y
Hear Sputnik's radio emissions: http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/sputnik.wav

Background information: Crash Course on the Cold War - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOmUEv9ystE

Read about Sputnik: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/sputnik.html
http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/

Once you've completed the readings and your guided notes, you may complete the mastery check by clicking here.

Quiz 6.1 - Rocketry

Hi!!  Take the quiz, write your essay (see the entry from yesterday), work on your THESIS STATEMENT for your research paper.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D6JilzZEgp4zVvIOXwcrY7WHYdmmUju3Lr5wFpIQ6RI/viewform

Wernher Von Braun: Hero or Villain?

Is it good for the USA that we landed on the Moon?  Of course!  Are Nazis evil?  Of course!

Not everything is so black and white, of course.

Wernher Von Braun was a rocket scientist whose talents enabled America to land men on the Moon.  He was certainly brilliant, but his moral character is at question.  He developed the V2 rocket for Nazi Germany in World War II, which killed thousands of British civilians.  His work on this rocket utilized concentration camp labor, and he was well aware of this.  After the allies won the war, Von Braun and his team defected to America, where they began working on American rocket technologies.  He was largely responsible for the development of the Saturn V rocket, which was the instrumental tool in the race to reach the Moon.

Please complete these guided notes as you learn about this shadowy figure.

We will watch the following in class:

Some background on the V2 Rocket:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lQKCZRbJy4
http://londonist.com/2009/01/london_v2_rocket_sitesmapped.php

A segment from Walt Disney's television show, Man In Space:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fautyLuuvo

Comedian Tom Lehrer's song, Werner Von Braun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJ9HrZq7Ro&feature=kp

Wernher Von Braun: Rocket Man for War and Peace documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqmlDqiHYWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1HgwUIs6BQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoNRPkm4EaA

Please read the following sources:

PBS's Hunt for Nazi Scientists article on Von Braun:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/features/hunt-for-nazi-scientists/wernher-von-braun/101/
V2 Rocket history page on Von Braun:
http://www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/vonbraun.html
Review of Dark Side of the Moon: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/909

Now, your task.  Answer the following:  Should America have relied on Wernher Von Braun to help us get to the Moon?  Be sure to discuss Von Braun's work with Nazi Germany, his scientific aspirations, and his work in America.  Your writing can be on paper or electronic, and a minimum length of three paragraphs is required.

Rocket science

Today you are going to design a rocket.

First, determine the purpose of your rocket mission.  Are you trying to send astronauts into space?  Are you shooting a nuclear bomb at someone on the other side of the world?  Are you sending a space probe to a nearby star?

Review this document and choose THREE technologies that you think are most important to include in your rocket.

Now, describe your rocket's mission and design.  Draw a picture of your rocket and label the major features.

Finally, complete the survey below (click here if you are having trouble seeing it) by the end of class.   

Research Paper Time!! Space Exploration

Hi students,

We have now selected topics and conducted some preliminary research, so we are ready to get serious with this research paper.  We will work on this paper throughout the unit on space exploration and it will serve as a major assessment (equal to a test, and tests are worth 35% of your astronomy grade).

Here is Ms. Clarke's research paper guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5PV-8nBxsNQQVdxOU1jMGQwZkE/edit?usp=sharing

Here are the specific requirements and timeline for completion of our research paper in astronomy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9gJuG8LlES1akdDdTN3ZnJ4c2c/edit?usp=sharing

We will discuss these documents today and they will help you as you conduct your research and write your paper.  Please refer to them often.

What will happen to the universe?

Hi Students,

Today you will become an expert on your favorite of four theories of the fate of the universe.

Steps for today's work:

1. Choose the theory that makes the most sense to you: Big Freeze, Big Crunch, Big Bounce, or Big Rip.

2. Become an expert on the theory you have chosen.  Resources are listed below.  To become an expert, you must be able to describe the fate of the universe according to your theory in non-technical details.  You must be able to explain the role of dark energy in your theory.  You must be able to explain the strengths and weaknesses of your theory.

3. Write a persuasive essay convincing a peer that your theory is the best of the four theories.  In your essay, you must describe all the theories of the fate of the universe, you must describe yours in detail, you must describe the role of dark energy in your theory, detail the strengths and weaknesses, and explain why you find this theory to be the most convincing.  You must have a thesis statement in your introductory paragraph and a strong concluding statement at the end.  Five paragraphs is the recommended length for this assignment.  Details can be found here.

Resources:

For your writing:

Here are the assignment requirements and details.
Here is the rubric that I will use to grade you.  Please see page 3, the rubric for Argument.

For your research:

Dark Matter
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_fate.html
http://news.discovery.com/space/dark-matter-mystery-could-be-solved-in-10-years-140127.htm
http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2013/06/dark-matter/
https://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter23/dark_matter_interactive.html
BOOKS!

Dark Energy
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_fate.html
http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-is-dark-energy/
http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/dark_energy/
http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/january-2014/toward-a-new-dark-energy-detector

The Big Freeze
http://www.universetoday.com/36917/big-freeze/
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_fate.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/universe/historysans.html

The Big Crunch / Big Bounce
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_fate.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/big-bang-or-big-bounce/
http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/big-bounce-theory
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-big-bounce.htm


The Big Rip
http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/dark_energy/de-fate_of_the_universe.php#the_big_rip
http://phys.org/news/2011-07-big-rips.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Rip

EM Radiation Investigation

Warm up: Energy simulation

Investigate: How do different materials interact with different radiations?  Click here for a simulator.

Reading: NASA develops super-black material... (you can have a paper copy if you wish)

Respond: on this document