The Sun.When you look up at the night sky and see the stars, do you think of the Sun? You should! The Sun is a star. It is only medium-sized, but it looks bigger and brighter than the other stars because it is closer to Earth. If you could travel to the Sun in one day, you would need 750 years to reach the next closest star! The Sun is about 5 billion years old. It is the center of our solar system solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. . Nine planets, including the Earth, move around the Sun. It is so big that if it were hollow, a million Earths could fit inside! Fiery Furnace This article is about the Bible story. For the rock band, see The Fiery Furnaces. "Mishael" redirects here. Mishael is also the name of a minor Biblical figure. "Fiery Furnace" redirects here. is also the name of a part of Arches National Park. The Sun is so hot that you would not survive if you were anywhere near it. It is made of gases, mostly hydrogen and helium helium (hē`lēəm), gaseous chemical element; symbol He; at. no. 2; at. wt. 4.0026; m.p. below −272°C; at 26 atmospheres pressure; b.p. −268.934°C; at 1 atmosphere pressure; density 0. . Gravity, the same force that pulls us down and keeps us on Earth, holds these gases together. Deep in the Sun's core, or center, the gases burn at incredibly high temperatures. The Sun's weight presses on the gases and they explode, making energy, we feel and see that energy as heat and light. The sunlight that is warming us today was made inside the Sun's core more than a million years ago! Once it reached the Sun's surface, though, it took just 8 minutes to speed from the Sun to us. All living things Living Things may refer to:
Ball of Activity All we can see from Earth is the Sun's surface. It looks smooth and peaceful, but it's not! Dark sunspots sunspots, dark, usually irregularly shaped spots on the sun's surface that are actually solar magnetic storms. The Chinese recorded dark features on the sun seen with the naked eye in 28 B.C. , made of cooler gases, move across the surface. Some sunspots are bigger than the Earth! Violent storms on the Sun's surface, called flares, explode deep into space. A solar wind solar wind, stream of ionized hydrogen—protons and electrons—with an 8% component of helium ions and trace amounts of heavier ions that radiates outward from the sun at high speeds. of tiny magnetic particles flows away from the Sun and through the solar system. Sometimes these particles "bump" the Earth's atmosphere “Air” redirects here. For other uses, see Air (disambiguation). Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retained by the Earth's gravity. It contains roughly (by molar content/volume) 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0. , causing colorful "dancing lights" in the sky called auroras. The corona Corona, city, United States Corona (kərō`nə), city (1990 pop. 76,095), Riverside co., S Calif.; inc. 1896. The city developed as a primary citrus fruit producer and shipping center. There is also light manufacturing. is a halo of bright gases surrounding the Sun. We can usually see the corona only during total solar eclipses Selected solar eclipses, past and future. Antiquity Date of eclipse Time (UTC) Type Central Duration (*) Eclipse Path Notes Start Mid End June 24, 1312 BCE - 10:44 - total 04m33s Anatolia Mursili's eclipse , when the Moon blocks out the Sun's bright surface. The Sun will most likely run out of fuel someday and burn out. Don't worry, though ... scientists believe that probably won't happen for at least another 5 billion years!!! ABC's of Sun Safety A = Stay away from the Sun in the middle of the day. B = Block the Sun with sunscreen sunscreen /sun·screen/ (-skren) a substance applied to the skin to protect it from the effects of the sun's rays. sun·screen n. . C = Cover-up with a shirt and a hat. Don't ever look right at the Sun. It will hurt your eyes! Instead, you can look at pictures of the Sun, being sent right now from the SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. spacecraft! http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov BACKGROUND From a distance, the Sun appears to be a smooth, calm, bright ball of light. In reality, though, the closest star to Earth is a violent, exploding, turbulent sphere in a constant state of turmoil. This huge, flaming flaming - flame ball of gases provides all the heat and light we need to live. The Sun is about 5 billion years old, and just one star among billions in the Milky Way Milky Way, the galaxy of which the sun and solar system are a part, seen as a broad band of light arching across the night sky from horizon to horizon; if not blocked by the horizon, it would be seen as a circle around the entire sky. . It is much bigger than Earth. In fact, if the Sun were hollow, a million Earths could fit inside it - with room to spare! Still, compared to other stars, the Sun is average in both size and brightness. It appears bigger and brighter to us, than other stars, because it is closer - only 93 million miles (150 million km) from Earth. To put this in perspective, if you could travel to the Sun in one day, it would take you about 750 years to reach the next closest star. The Sun is the center of our solar system, circled by a family of 9 planets. As the Earth orbits the Sun, it spins like a top. One complete turn takes 24 hours. When our part of the world faces the Sun, it is day. When it turns away from the Sun, it is night. It takes the Earth one year to go completely around the Sun. The amount of sunshine that each area receives changes as the Earth moves. In many parts of the world, a year is divided into four separate seasons - spring, summer, fall and winter. Fire in the Sky Like other stars, our Sun is actually a roaring inferno of gases. This is why it is able to make and give off its own light. These gases are held together by gravity, the same force that holds Earth and the other planets in their orbits around the Sun. The energy produced within the Sun spreads away from it in waves, something like the ripple effect ripple effect Epidemiology See Signal event. in a pond when you toss in a stone. The Sun is mostly made up of hydrogen (70%) and helium (25%). Hydrogen is one of the elements found in water and the lightest of all known elements. Helium is helium I n. Liquid helium existing as a normal fluid between the superfluid transition point of approximately 2.2°K at 1 atmosphere pressure and its boiling point of 4.2°K. also a light gas, and is used in balloons to make them float. Scientists discovered helium on the Sun before they knew that it existed on Earth. These gases are hottest at the Sun's center, or core. The temperature there is about 27 million [degrees] F (15 million [degrees] C), and the pressure is 340 billion times more than Earth's air pressure at sea level. All this heat and force cause the tiny hydrogen atoms in the Sun to melt together and explode. What is occurring in the Sun is very similar to the nuclear reaction in a hydrogen bomb hydrogen bomb or H-bomb, weapon deriving a large portion of its energy from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes. In an atomic bomb, uranium or plutonium is split into lighter elements that together weigh less than the original atoms, the . This is very similar to what is occurring in the Sun. Scientists believe that the Sun will eventually run out of fuel and burn out, but not to worry - this probably won't happen for at least another 5 billion years. The Sun's Forces The nuclear energy produced in the Sun's core bubbles outward to its surface, called the photosphere photosphere, luminous, apparently opaque layer of gases that forms the visible surface of the sun or any other star. The photosphere lies between the dense interior gases and the more attenuated gases of the chromosphere. . The release of energy in the form of heat and light makes the Sun's surface shine. The brilliant photosphere is what we see from Earth. The bright light of the photosphere makes it difficult to see the Sun's atmosphere. The Sun's thin, pinkish inner atmosphere, or chromosphere chromosphere (krō`məsfēr') [Gr.,=color sphere], layer of rarefied, transparent gases in the solar atmosphere; it measures 6,000 mi (9,700 km) in thickness and lies between the photosphere (the sun's visible surface) and the corona (its , is visible only during a total solar eclipse. That is when the Moon moves directly between the Earth and Sun and blocks out the Sun. The corona, or outer atmosphere, can also be seen during a total solar eclipse, and at other times with special instruments. It appears as a bright, wispy wisp n. 1. A small bunch or bundle, as of straw, hair, or grass. 2. a. One that is thin, frail, or slight. b. A thin or faint streak or fragment, as of smoke or clouds. 3. "halo" around the Sun. The Sun's surface appears to be smooth, but if you look through a powerful solar telescope, you will see that it is constantly moving. Undulating waves of energy, called granules Granules Small packets of reactive chemicals stored within cells. Mentioned in: Allergic Rhinitis, Allergies , move continuously across the Sun. Sunspots are dark patches on the Sun's surface. Galileo discovered them in 1609 as he looked through the newly invented telescope. Sunspots vary greatly in size. Some are even bigger than the Earth! They appear dark because they are cooler than the rest of the Sun's surface ... but they are still phenomenally hot! Scientists believe sunspots may be caused by strong magnetic fields magnetic fields, n.pl the spaces in which magnetic forces are detectable; created by magnetostrictive ultrasonic scalers to cause the tips of instruments such as ultrasonic scalers to vibrate. that block heat from the core. Some scientists believe that sunspot sunspot Cooler-than-average region of gas on the Sun's surface associated with strong local magnetic activity. Sunspots appear as dark spots, but only in contrast with the surrounding photosphere, which is several thousand degrees hotter. activity may affect the Earth's weather and telecommunications, and may even disrupt other electronic systems. Dark ribbons of fiery gases, called prominences, move around the sunspots. Changes in the Sun's atmosphere can also cause sudden, explosive solar flares solar flare Sudden intense brightening of a small part of the Sun's surface, often near a sunspot group. Flares develop in a few minutes and may last several hours, releasing intense X rays and streams of energetic particles. to shoot out. Scientists believe flares push heat, light, and solar radiation solar radiation, n the emission and diffusion of actinic rays from the sun. Overexposure may result in sunburn, keratosis, skin cancer, or lesions associated with photosensitivity. out through holes in the corona, sending them millions of miles into space. Sunspots, and the flares and storms that accompany them, come and go in an 11-year sunspot cycle  To comply with Wikipedia's this section of the article needs a complete rewrite. .
This year, sunspot activity is expected to be at its highest point In
our current 11-year cycle.
The Sun's atmosphere has no real outer edge. The gases of the corona stretch out through the solar system. These gases are constantly moving away from the Sun, forming a solar wind of magnetic particles that sweeps past Earth at about 1 million miles per hour (1.6 million kph). Most of the time, Earth's magnetic atmosphere protects us from these magnetic particles. Occasionally, some of the particles collide col·lide intr.v. col·lid·ed, col·lid·ing, col·lides 1. To come together with violent, direct impact. 2. with Earth's atmosphere, causing magnificent displays of colorful lights that glow and "dance" in the sky. These are called auroras. They can appear almost anywhere, but are most common in the night skies above the magnetic north and south poles North and South Poles figurative ends of the earth. [Geography: Misc.] See : Remoteness . The Sun at Work Energy made in the Sun's core takes millions of years to reach the Sun's surface, but only about 8 minutes to speed to Earth. When the Sun shines, you can see its light and feel its heat. The Sun also emits ultraviolet (UV) light, which we can't see, but benefits living things by providing Vitamin D vitamin D Any of a group of fat-soluble alcohols important in calcium metabolism in animals to form strong bones and teeth and prevent rickets and osteoporosis. It is formed by ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) of sterols (see steroid) present in the skin. , which we use for bone growth. (Too much exposure to UV rays can also cause sunburn sunburn, inflammation of the skin caused by actinic rays from the sun or artificial sources. Moderate exposure to ultraviolet radiation is followed by a red blush, but severe exposure may result in blisters, pain, and constitutional symptoms. and skin cancer in humans.) The Sun's energy fuels all life on Earth. Plants take in energy directly from the Sun through photosynthesis. Animals eat these plants and in turn are eaten by other animals. In time, energy from the Sun reaches our dinner plates in the form of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains, providing us with the energy we need to live. Today we use solar-powered batteries in many appliances. Solar energy solar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. is also used to help heat and power homes. Although the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth is enormous, it is difficult to collect and store. If you could store all the energy produced by the Sun in a single day, you could fill all of Earth's energy needs for 30 years. However, much of the Sun's energy is absorbed or reflected by our atmosphere, and the heat and light that do reach the Earth are spread out. Today, the Sun has become the focus of a new direction of scientific study - finding better and less expensive ways to harness the Sun's seemingly limitless power. To do that, scientists are striving to learn more about how the Sun works and how we can utilize this amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. source of energy. Since 1996, the spacecraft SOHO, which stands for Solar and Heliospheric Observatory The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a spacecraft that was launched on an Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on 2 December 1995 to study the Sun, and began normal operations in May 1996. , has been in a fixed point in space studying, the Sun. Sponsored by NASA, and the European Space Agency European Space Agency (ESA), multinational agency dedicated to the promotion, for exclusively peaceful purposes, of cooperation among European states in space research and technology. , SOHO's mission is to explore the Sun s magnetic fields, and their relationship to sunspots and solar storms Solar storm can refer to:
Discuss the dangers of looking directly at the Sun with your students. Tell them that they should never do this - even through dark film or tinted tint n. 1. A shade of a color, especially a pale or delicate variation. 2. A gradation of a color made by adding white to it to lessen its saturation. 3. A slight coloration; a tinge. 4. glasses. The Sun is so bright that it can cause serious damage to their eyes. Level Pre-A Main Concepts: The Sun is a star that sends heat and light to Earth. Picture Activity Ask if the Sun in the picture looks like the way they usually think of the Sun. This is a real picture of the Sun taken by NASA. From far away, the Sun looks like a smooth ball, but it is really made of swirling, fiery hot gases (one of the gases is helium, which we use to make balloons float). Explain that the Sun is really a star, just like the ones they see in the night sky, only the Sun is much closer to us. Explain that the spacecraft SOHO will never land on the Sun because it's too hot, but it is studying the Sun and sending back lots of pictures. The Sun gives us (and all plants and animals Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal, comprised of guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque, and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woodley.[1] They are signed to Secret City Records. ) the heat and light we need to live. See the orange box above. Discuss eye safety and never looking directly at the Sun with your students. Vocabulary Answers: match - yes, ice cream cone An ice cream cone or cornet is a cone-shaped pastry, usually made of a wafer similar in texture to a waffle, in which ice cream is served, allowing it to be eaten without a bowl or spoon. - no, light bulb - yes, fire - yes, cool drink - no, pot - yes. Go over the pictures together first. Ask your students, "Is the Sun hot or cold?" Encourage them to think about how they know when things are hot (e.g., it turns red, there is steam rising, etc.) Point out that we can't always tell if something is hot just by looking at it (e.g., a spoon lying on a stove, a seatbelt buckle on a hot summer day, etc.) Ask them to name other things that are hot. Weekly Lab You need: 2 ice cubes and 2 bowls (or plates) for each student or group. Begin this activity by telling your students that they are going to see the Sun's rays "work." Have them place one ice cube in each of the bowls. Then have them put one bowl in the Sun and the other in a cool, shady spot in the classroom. (If no shade exists, block the Sun with a book or a piece of paper.) Before they begin, ask them to guess which ice cube they think will melt faster. Have them observe their ice cubes and watch what happens. Which one melts first? After each student or group is finished, ask, "Why did the ice cubes in the Sun melt faster than the ones in the shade?" (The Sun's rays give us heat, which melts the ice.) Ask them to name other light and heat sources that they see or use (e.g., lamps, car headlights, candles, lightning bugs lightning bug: see firefly. , electric heaters, flashlights, fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to , stoves, fireplaces, etc.) Weekly Problem Answers: the basketball, the Sun, the ring, and the globe (Earth) are round. First ask your students what is the shape of the Sun. (It's round). You can explain that the Sun is really a big ball of gas. It is not hard and solid like the Earth. Storytelling Storytelling Aesop semi-legendary fabulist of ancient Greece. [Gk. Lit.: Harvey, 10] Münchäusen Baron traveler grossly embellishes his experiences. [Ger. Lit. Ask, "What do you think will happen to the snowman?" (It will melt in the warm Sun.) Sunshine gives us heat, and heat melts things. Ask them to name other things that would melt if left out in the Sun (e.g., ice cream, chocolate, ice cubes, etc.) Also ask how WHY-FLY and his friend are reacting to the Sun's heat. Challenge Answers: 1) A 2) B 3) A. Before beginning this activity, explain that when something blocks the Sun, it makes a shadow. Any kind of light can make a shadow - not just sunlight. Explain that all you need to make a shadow is light, something to block the light, and a surface for the shadow to fall on. Home Base This activity can be done at home or in class. You can use the Sun or a flashlight to make the shadows. If done in class, try using a projector to give your students a better "stage" for their puppets. Encourage them to make up stories with their puppets and share them. Level A Main Concepts: The Sun is the closest star to Earth. It gives us the heat and light we need to live. Picture Activity See TN Level Pre-A - PICTURE ACTIVITY. Vocabulary Answers: sun, light, heat, earth The Sun is a star. Put together, the missing letters in the words spell out the word star. Ask your students why they think the Sun looks so different from the stars we see in the night sky. Explain that we are much closer to the Sun than to any other star. The Sun is at the center of our solar system. All 9 planets in our solar system family orbit (move around) the Sun. Weekly Lab See TN Level Pre-A - WEEKLY LAB. In addition, ask them to name other things that melt in the Sun (e.g., ice cream, chocolate, popsicles, snow, etc.) Weekly Problem Answer: 8 minutes. Explain that the sunshine they feel took 8 minutes to speed from the Sun's surface to Earth. Explain that there are many names for the Sun. One of them is Sol. Tell your students that WHY-FLY's super solar suit is helping to keep him cool, because it is helping to turn away the Sun's hot rays. The space suits astronauts wear do the same thing. Writing for Science Ask, "What do you think will happen to the snowman?" (It will melt in the warm Sun.) Sunshine gives us heat, and heat melts things. Ask how WHY-FLY and his friend are reacting to the Sun's heat (WHY-FLY is unzipping his coat and his friend is taking off her scarf.) As an extension, ask them what they could do to keep the snowman from melting so fast. Explain that blocking the Sun's light will help slow the melting process. For example, if the snowman was built in the shade of a tree or house, it would melt more slowly. Challenge Answers: 1) A 2) B 3) C. Before beginning this activity, explain that when something blocks the Sun, it makes a shadow. Any kind of light can make a shadow - not just sunlight. All you need to make a shadow is light, something to block the light, and a surface for the shadow to fall on. Provide time for your students to experiment with their own shadows. Home Base See TN Level Pre-A - HOME BASE. Level B Main Concepts: The Sun is one of billions of stars in the universe. It looks bigger because it is the closest star to Earth. The Sun gives us the heat and light we need to live. Vocabulary Answers: 1) in 2) he, eat, or at 3) ear or art 4) tar 5) end. Also ask what other words they can find in the word "shine" besides "in" given as an example (hi, shin). Weekly Lab This lab shows that white light (like sunlight) is really made of many colors. Place the pan of water near a brightly lit window. Move the mirror around, until it catches the light. If you are using a flashlight for this lab, tell your students to think of it as the Sun. Direct the flashlight so that it shines on the part of the mirror that is underwater. Hold a piece of white paper above the pan of water, and move it around until you see a rainbow reflected on it. Ask them how many colors they can see (they may be able to see all 7 colors - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo indigo [Span.; from Lat.,=Indian], important blue dyestuff used in printing inks and for vat dyeing of cotton (see dye). It was anciently produced in India and was known in Egypt, probably c.1600 B.C. , and violet). As the water bends (refracts) the light, it separates it into these colors. Explain that the colors always appear in the same order. As an extension, have your students draw or paint their own rainbows. Weekly Problem Answers: 16, 11, 15, 8 minutes. Tell your students that it takes millions of years for this energy to move from the Sun's core, or center, to its surface, but only 8 minutes to speed from the Sun's surface to Earth. Writing for Science Have your students share their stories. Ask how the Sun helped to make their day so special. Challenge Answers: 1) C 2) B 3) D. Before beginning, discuss how something makes a shadow when it blocks the Sun (or a light source). Any kind of light can make a shadow - not just sunlight. All you need to make a shadow is light, something to block the light, and a surface for the shadow to fall on. Provide time for your students to experiment with their own shadows. Home Base This activity can be done at home or in class. Sun-sensitive paper works extremely well and quite quickly, but regular black construction paper will show results in a few hours (you can also try dark purple or dark blue paper). Encourage your students to use a variety of shapes. Have others guess what the object was by the "shadow" it left. Level C Main Concepts: The Sun is the closest star to Earth. It is made of very hot gases. The Sun's surface is always changing. It makes the heat and light we need to live. Vocabulary Answers: sun, sung, sunk, junk, fun, funk, fund, hung, hunk, hunt, pun pun, use of words, usually humorous, based on (a) the several meanings of one word, (b) a similarity of meaning between words that are pronounced the same, or (c) the difference in meanings between two words pronounced the same and spelled somewhat similarly, e.g. , punk, punt, run, rung, runt The frame that remains after a collision on a CSMA/CD medium such as Ethernet. Runts are undersize packets, smaller than what the network protocol calls for, such as 64 bytes in Ethernet. Electrical interference or faulty wiring can also produce a runt. . Explain that the dotted boxes on each strip are to be used as blank spaces Noun 1. blank space - a blank area; "write your name in the space provided" space, place surface area, expanse, area - the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary; "the area of a rectangle"; "it was about 500 square feet in area" . Weekly Lab See TN Level B - WEEKLY LAB. Bonus: If you have a prism, explain that it also bends (refracts) light to make a rainbow. Explain that the pattern of colors not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. See also: Color we call a rainbow is also called the color spectrum. Weekly Problem Answers: 312, 389, 98, 595, 8 minutes. Remind your students to work down, then across, from left to right. Writing for Science Have your students share their stories. Ask them how the Sun helped to make their day so special. As an extension, ask them what they like the least about the Sun. Puzzle Answers: 1) C 2) B 3) D 4) C. Before beginning, discuss how something makes a shadow when it blocks the Sun (or a light source). Any kind of light can make a shadow- not just sunlight. All you need to make a shadow is light, something to block the light, and a surface for the shadow to fall on. Provide time for your students to experiment with their own shadows. Shadows may look bigger or smaller at different times of day, depending on where the Sun is in the sky. At noon, when the Sun is high in the sky, our shadows look shorter. Early and late in the day, they look longer and thinner. Challenge This activity can be done at home or in class. Sun-sensitive paper works extremely well and quite quickly, but regular black construction paper will show results in a few hours (you can also try dark purple or dark blue paper). Encourage your students to use a wide variety of items with different and unique shapes. Level D Main Concepts: The Sun is our nearest star and the center of our solar system. It looks peaceful from Earth, but it is really a flaming ball of constant activity. It is made of hydrogen and helium. Vocabulary See TN Level C - VOCABULARY. In addition: thunder, flung, flunk, under. Weekly Lab Note: The hot water should be only as hot as can be handled safely. Ask your students how we measure how hot something is. We use a scientific tool called a thermometer thermometer, instrument for measuring temperature. Galileo and Sanctorius devised thermometers consisting essentially of a bulb with a tubular projection, the open end of which was immersed in a liquid. . In this lab, they will be making one of their own. The water in their "thermometer" will expand and rise up the straw tube when put in the bowl of hot water. Tell your students that it is important to make an airtight air·tight adj. 1. Impermeable by air. 2. Having no weak points; sound: an airtight excuse. airtight Adjective 1. seal around the bottle top with the clay. If possible, bring in examples of different types of thermometers to class and demonstrate how they work. Weekly Problem Answers: 1717, 2394, 1815, 2288, It takes 8 minutes for sunlight to reach the Earth. As an extension, ask your students what other characteristics a good space suit might have (e.g., oxygen tanks, drink pouch pouch (pouch) a pocket or sac. abdominovesical pouch one formed by reflection of the peritoneum from the abdominal wall to the anterior surface of the bladder. , lights, temperature controls, a parachute, a life preserver life preserver, a personal flotation device (PFD) intended to keep the wearer afloat, particularly in case of shipwreck. A Type I PFD will keep even unconscious people afloat in a face–up position; it is the most common type used at sea. , a TV camera, a visor, a helmet, gloves, a communication device, a waste-disposal system, etc.) Tell them that the moon-landing suits that Apollo astronauts This is a list of all astronauts directly associated with NASA's Apollo program. A total of thirty-eight astronauts flew in an Apollo spacecraft, twenty-nine of whom were part of the Apollo program, the rest being Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz astronauts. wore to shield them from the Sun were made of 17 protective layers, including Teflon-coated glass fiber, aluminum coated plastic, and rubber. (Teflon is the material sometimes used on no-stick pans.) The astronauts needed these devices because the moon has no atmosphere to protect them from the Sun's rays. Writing for Science Some protective features on their ship could include hulls that reflect the Sun's heat, a place to store air, tiles that absorb heat before it can enter the craft, a cooling system cooling system: see air conditioning; internal-combustion engine; refrigeration. cooling system Apparatus used to keep the temperature of a structure or device from exceeding limits imposed by needs of safety and efficiency. , solar panels to collect the Sun's energy that would provide power to run the ship and its on-board On board usually means to be traveling on some vehicle. For example, Baby On Board. Compare with overboard. Metaphorically, the term on-board is often used to refer to some piece of technology that is integrated in a moving vehicle, for example: Challenge See TN Level C - PUZZLE. Puzzle Answer: SOL. Sol is the name the ancient Romans This an alphabetical List of ancient Romans. These include citizens of ancient Rome remembered in history for some reason. Note that some persons may be listed multiple times, once for each part of the name. gave to the Sun. Our word "solar" comes from this Latin name. Explain to your students that since space probes do not return to Earth, the information they collect must be sent back electronically. All this important data is sent back to scientists on Earth using a code of &'s and O's, called the binary code binary code Code used in digital computers, based on a binary number system in which there are only two possible states, off and on, usually symbolized by 0 and 1. Whereas in a decimal system, which employs 10 digits, each digit position represents a power of 10 (100, 1,000, . This is the same system that computers use to quickly read and store their information. Remind your students that every square with a & should be colored in completely. Squares with a 0 stay blank. Level E Main Concepts: The Sun is our nearest star and the center of our solar system. Like all stars, it is made of gases - mostly hydrogen and helium. It is a flaming ball of constant activity. Vocabulary Answers: DOWN - 1) fuel 2) star 4) surface 6) wind 7)hydrogen 9)corona 10)solar. ACROSS - 3) sunspots 5) flare 8) gravity 9) core 11) auroras. Weekly Lab Note: The hot water should be only as hot as can be handled safely. Add ice cubes, if available, to the bowl of cold water, introduce the thermometer as a scientific tool that measures heat. In this lab, they will be making their own thermometers. The water enclosed in their "thermometer" will expand and rise up the straw tube when put in the bowl of hot water and lower when put in the cold water. Explain that the water will rise and fall as the temperature changes because liquids expand when heated and contract when cooled. Tell your students that it is important to make an airtight seal around the bottle top with the clay. If possible, bring in examples of different types of thermometers to class and demonstrate how they work. Weekly Problem Answers: 1) 110 lbs. 2) Lil - 2,968 lbs, Phil - 2,772 lbs, Bill - 3,360 lbs. 3) They will multiply their "Earth weight" by 28 to find the answer. Explain to your students that gravity is the invisible force that pulls us down and holds everything on Earth, keeps the Moon circling the Earth, and holds the Earth and planets around the Sun. It is also the force that holds together the gases that make up the Sun. Writing for Science Explain that many ancient people worshipped the Sun. The Sun was the center of many religious ideas and was often seen as the cause behind many natural occurrences. When writing their myths, tell your students to think of the Sun in the same way ancient people may have - as a mysterious, hot, glowing ball that sometimes sent them heat and light, and sometimes left them in the cold and dark. One Sun myth from the country of Lithuania tells the story of the Sun and Moon getting married and having a child, the Earth. Then they argued. The Sun told the Moon he was too cold, and the Moon told the Sun she was too hot. Finally, they separated and agreed that the Sun would take care of the Earth during the day and the Moon would look after her at night. Sometimes, when the Moon is busy, his sisters, the stars, watch over the Earth instead. Challenge Remind them to use care when handling the "solar cookers Solar cookers are devices that heat food using only sunlight. Since they use no fuel and they cost nothing to run, humanitarian organizations are promoting their use worldwide to help slow deforestation and desertification, caused by the need for firewood used to cook. ," especially the foil areas, which can become quite hot. (You may want to use oven mitts or a towel.) Try to use a bowl with as small a base as possible. Explain that the aluminum foil Noun 1. aluminum foil - foil made of aluminum aluminium foil, tin foil foil - a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil" reflects the Sun's rays and the shape of the bowl focuses them on the potato. The heat warms the potato and will eventually cook it. Puzzle See TN Level D - PUZZLE. Level F Main Concepts: The Sun is our nearest star and the center of our solar system. Like all stars, it is made of gases - mostly hydrogen and helium, it is a flaming ball of constant activity. All living things need the Sun. Weekly Lab Lab A: Have them use care when handling the "solar cookers," especially the foil areas, which can become quite hot. (You may want to use oven mitts or a towel.) It is important for the bowl to have as small a base as possible. The Sun's rays are reflected from the sides of the bowl towards the center and concentrated on the potato. As the rays converge at this point, enough heat is created to cook the potato. Emphasize that if the Sun's rays are strong enough to cook a potato, then it can also "cook" their skin. That is why using sun protection is so important. Cooking times will vary, from 30 minutes on. If time is limited, use marshmallows. Bonus: The moisturizing effect of the sunscreen will be noticeable and the cooking rates will differ. Sunscreens Sunscreens Definition Sunscreens are products applied to the skin to protect against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Purpose Everyone needs a little sunshine. contain substances that cut down the amount of ultraviolet light Ultraviolet light A portion of the light spectrum not visible to the eye. Two bands of the UV spectrum, UVA and UVB, are used to treat psoriasis and other skin diseases. that reaches the potato's skin. It protects our skin in the same way. Remind them not to eat any foods treated with sunscreen. Lab B: See TN Level E - WEEKLY LAB. Weekly Problem Answers: 1) 110 lbs. 2) Lil - 2,968 lbs., Phil - 99 lbs., Bill - 3,360 lbs., Jill - 112 lbs. 3) Your students will multiply their "Earth weight" by 28 to find the answer. Gravity is the invisible force that pulls us down and holds everything on Earth. Gravity keeps the Moon circling the Earth, and holds the Earth and planets around the Sun. It is also the force that holds together the gases that make up the Sun. Writing for Science See TN Level E-WRITING FOR SCIENCE. Challenge Answer: SOL. Sol is the name the ancient Romans gave to the Sun. Our word "solar" comes from this Latin name. Explain to your students that since space probes do not return to Earth, the information they collect must be sent back electronically. All this important data is sent back to scientists on Earth using a code of 1's and 0's, called the binary code. This is the same system that computers use to quickly read and store their information. Remind your students that every square with a & should be colored in completely. Squares with a 0 stay blank. Encourage them to make up their own code using graph paper. Some examples of solar terms A solar term is one of 24 points in traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic and are used by lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the : solar energy, solar day, solar batteries, solar system, solarium, etc. Puzzle Answers: DOWN -1) fuel 2) star 4) surface 6) wind 7) hydrogen 9) corona &O) solar. ACROSS - 3) sunspots 5) flare 8) gravity 9) core 11) auroras. National Science Education Standards The National Science Education Standards (NSES) are a set of guidelines for the science education in primary and secondary schools in the United States, as established by the National Research Council in 1996. Unifying Concepts and Processes (K-8) * Systems, order, and organization * Evidence, models, and explanation * Constancy con·stan·cy n. 1. Steadfastness, as in purpose or affection; faithfulness. 2. The condition or quality of being constant; changelessness. Noun 1. , change, and measurement * Evolution and equilibrium * Form and function Standard A: Science as Inquiry (K-8) * Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry * Understanding about scientific inquiry Standard B: Physical Science (K-4) * Properties of objects and materials * Position and motion of objects * Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism (5-8) * Properties and changes of properties in matter * Motions and forces * Transfer of energy Standard C: Life Science (K-4) * The characteristics of organisms * Organisms and environment (5-8) * Regulation and behavior * Populations and ecosystems Standard D: Earth and Space Science (K-4) * Objects in the sky * Changes in earth system * Structure of the earth system * Earth's history Standard E: Science and Technology (K-4) * Understanding about science and technology (5-8) * Understandings about science and technology Standard F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives (K-4) * Personal health * Types of resources * Changes in environments * Science and technology in local challenges (5-8) * Personal health * Populations, resources, and environments * Natural hazards * Risks and benefits * Science and technology in society Standard G: History and Nature of Science (K-8) * Science as a human endeavor Weekly Resources Helpful Sources for Planning Your Science Weekly Classroom Activities Recommended Resources * Anholt, Catherine. Sun Snow Stars Sky. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : Viking, 1995 * Asimov, Isaac Asimov, Isaac (ăz`əmŏf), 1920–92, American author and scientist, b. Petrovichi, USSR, grad. Columbia Univ. (B.S., 1939; M.A., 1941; Ph.D., 1948). An astonishingly prolific author, he wrote over 400 books. . The Sun and its Secrets. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens, 1994 * Bourgeois, Paulette. The Sun. Buffalo, NY: Kids Can Press, 1995 * Branley, Franklyn M. The Sun: Our Nearest Star. New York: Crowell Inc., 1988 * Daley, Michael J. Amazing Sun Fun Activities. New York: Learning Triangle Press, 1998 * Davies, Kay and Wendy Oldfield. Sun (See for Yourself Series). Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1996 * Gardner, Robert. Science Project Ideas About the Sun. Springfield, NJ' Enslow Inc., 1997 * Petty, Kate. The Sun is a Star. Brookfield, CT: Cooper Beech a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves. See also: Beech Books, 1997 * Vogt, Gregory L. The Sun. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press, 1996 Internet Resources NASA Quest Classroom Program "All About the Sun" - http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/Itc/soho/index2.html Dr. SOHO's page - http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/explore/faq/spacecraft.html Windows to the Universe - http://www.windows.umich.edu (enter the website and click on the "Sun") Starchild - http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov (go to Solar System and then to Sun) The Solar Center - http://solar-center.stanford.edu/index.html Sunspots - http://sunspotcycle.com Solar Energy- http://www.web.net/~sunwind/ Eclipses- http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eclipse Cool pictures and movies - http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/outreach/coolpics.html Sundials - http://www.owu.edu/~mggrote/pP/physics/f-physics.html (click on Sundials) Materials Needed for Issue 12 - The Spine Pre-A, A - bobby pins bobby pin n. A small metal hair clip with the ends pressed tightly together. [From bob2. (or darning needles), dental floss dental floss n. A waxed or unwaxed thread used to remove food particles and plaque from the teeth. (or strong thread), white Life Savers[R], mini marshmallows, pretzel twists B, C - same as above, plus cardboard D - bobby pins (or darning needles), dental floss (or strong thread), white Life Savers[R], mini marshmallows, pretzel twists, cardboard, licorice licorice (lĭk`ərĭs, –rĭsh), name for a European plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) of the family Leguminosae (pulse family) and for the sweet substance obtained from the root. , paper clips E, F - cardboard tubes (from paper towels, toilet paper, or gift wrap), scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends , rulers, paper fasteners fasteners In construction, connectors between structural members. Bolted connections are used when it is necessary to fasten two elements tightly together, especially to resist shear and bending, as in column and beam connections. (or string), hole-punches We would like to thank NASA for their kind assistance in providing information and photographic materials for this issue. Vocabulary Solve this Sun crossword puzzle crossword puzzle, word game in which words corresponding to numbered clues are put into a grid of horizontal and vertical squares to form intersecting words. The puzzle is solved when a player supplies all of the words correctly. . DOWN 1. The Sun will run out of -- in 5 billion years. 2. The Sun is a medium-sized --. 4. The -- is the only part of the Sun you can see from Earth. 6. The solar -- is made of magnetic particles. It flows away from the Sun. 7. Helium and -- are the main gases that make up the Sun. 9. The halo of gases around the Sun. 10. A total -- eclipse is when the Moon blocks out the Sun. ACROSS 3. Dark areas on the Sun's surface. 5. A violent storm that erupts on the Sun. 8. -- keeps the Sun's gases together. 9. The center of the Sun. 11. Colorful "dancing" lights in the slay slay tr.v. slew , slain , slay·ing, slays 1. To kill violently. 2. past tense and past participle often slayed Slang . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Weekly Lab We can't see the Sun's heat. How do we measure it? Make your own thermometer. You need: a clear plastic straw, clay, water, a small soft drink bottle, food coloring, bowls Step 1: Fill the bottle 3/4 full with water. Step 2: Add a few drops of food coloring. Step 3: Put the straw in the bottle. Half of the straw should be in the water. Step 4: Hold the straw and make an airtight seal with the clay around the bottle top. Step 5: Put your thermometer in a bowl of hot water. What happens? Step 6: Put your thermometer in a bowl of cold water. Now what happens? Now, try this outside, letting the Sun heat the water! Weekly Problem Jack's science teacher gave him some surprising news. She said that Jack weighed 3,080 pounds! "On the Sun," his teacher added. Jack was relieved, because he knew that gravity is 28 times greater on the Sun than on Earth. 1) What is Jack's Earth weight? 3,080 + 28 = [ ] lbs. 2) Now figure out how much Jack's classmates Classmates can refer to either:
Verb to be oppressive or burdensome to: the expectations that weigh so heavily on diplomats' wives Verb 1. the Sun! Name Earth Weight x 28= Solar Weight Lil 106 lbs. x 28= Phil 99 lbs. x 28= Bill 120 lbs. x 28= 3) How much would YOU weigh on the Sun? [ ] lbs. Writing for Science People in ancient times made up stories about the Sun. Helios, the ancient Greek Noun 1. Ancient Greek - the Greek language prior to the Roman Empire Greek, Hellenic, Hellenic language - the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages Sun god, raced a chariot chariot, earliest and simplest type of carriage and the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. The chariot was known among the Babylonians before the introduction of horses c.2000 B.C. and was first drawn by asses. The chariot and horse introduced into Egypt c.1700 B. across the sky. Ra, the ancient Egyptian Sun god, usually had the head of a Falcon The ancient Chinese List of ancient Chinese is a list of noteworthy people of ancient China. Different definitions of "ancient" China exist, but most agree that it is before the Tang dynasty. Related lists A general listing of existing lists related to this topic. thought that eclipses were caused by a dragon trying to swallow the Sun Swallow the Sun is a Finnish melodic doom metal/death metal band. Biography Swallow The Sun was formed in spring 2000 by Juha Raivio. Soon Pasi Pasanen came along as they both also played in Plutonium Orange. . Make up your own Sun Tale. Where does the Sun come from? Where does it go each night? What is its connection to the Earth and Moon? Challenge Adult supervision required. Please see Teaching Notes before beginning this activity. Is the Sun strong enough to cook a potato? Let's find out! (Try to do this lab on a sunny day, around noon.) You need: a small potato aluminum foil a round metal bowl (with a small base) 4 toothpicks tape blocks a ball or spoon 1) Line the inside of your bowl with foil. Keep the shiny side out. 2) Smooth out any wrinkles wrinkles See bells and whistles. with a ball or spoon, until the foil looks like a mirror. Tape the edges to the outside of the bowl. 3) Carefully push 4 toothpicks deeply into the bottom of your potato. Put the potato in the bowl. 4) Put your bowl outside facing the Sun. Keep turning your "solar cooker" to follow the Sun as it "moves" across the sky. You can use blocks to help tilt the bowl. Check your potato every 15 minutes. What happened to the potato and its skin? How long did it take to cook? If the Sun is strong enough to cook the potato's skin, what can it do to your skin? Try this with some other foods! Puzzle Spacecraft send messages back to Earth in a special code. Color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour all the squares with 1's. Leave the squares with 0's blank. What is another name for the Sun? DID YOU KNOW?? Temperatures reach about 27,000,000 [degrees] F (15,000,000 [degrees] C) at the Sun's core, or center. Another name for the Sun is Sol. The astronomer Galileo made the first thermometer in 1593 In ancient Greek myths, the Sun god Helios raced across the sky in a chariot! Sol is the name that ancient Romans gave to their Sun god. We can make electricity from the Sun, but it's expensive! Scientists are trying to make solar power cheaper. Even if you were in the world's fastest racecar race·car n. Sports An automobile used for racing. it would take you 53 years to reach the Sun! Every Second, the Sun releases the Same amount of energy as a million hydrogen bombs! Long ago, People believed sunspots Were Planets orbiting the Sun! Moonlight is actually sunlight that is reflected off the moon's surface. The Sun doesn't set at all at the South Pole South Pole, southern end of the earth's axis, lat. 90° S. It is distinguished from the south magnetic pole. The South Pole was reached by Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, in 1911. See Antarctica. during October and November! Scientist are at work on a "sailcraft" that would sail through space, powered only by the Sun! The Romans were the first to pass laws Pass laws in South Africa were designed to segregate the population and were one of the dominant features of the country's apartheid system. Introduced in South Africa in 1923, they were designed to regulate movement of black Africans into urban areas. protecting a person's right to sunshine. Sunlight looks white, but it is really many corers. You can see the colors through a prism or in a rainbow. A solar architect designs buildings that use energy from the Sun. Some plant such as sunflowers, turn to face the Sun as it "moves" across the sky! |
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