Students plot and analyze NASA data to determine the period of an invisible planet orbiting a wobbling star. By completing this activity, the learner will:
National Science Education Standards National Mathematics Education Standards
Activity 1: Exploration-The Motion of the Sun Activity Page One allows students to explore the motion of a two-body system around a center of mass to better understand how extra-solar planets are discovered. Students are shown a drawing depicting the orbital motion of the Sun and Jupiter and answer reflective questions designed to illustrate that the Sun is not a stationary object, but that all stars move or wobble when orbited by a large planet. Students then tackle questions about the magnitude and direction of the velocity of both the Sun and Jupiter. Activity 2:Concept Introduction-The Hammer Throw Activity Page Two allows students to view movies of athletes competing in the Hammer Throw. Students discover that the hammer and thrower both move about a common center of mass. They find that the center of mass is determined by considering the positions and masses of the two bodies. Activity 3: Concept Application: Discovering New Planets Activity Page Three allows students to use actual scientific data from recent discoveries of extra-solar planets. By plotting the central star's velocity toward or away from an observer versus time, students determine the period of an invisible planet's orbit.
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