Learning Exercise
Distance in Space
Students will be divided into five groups. Each group will be given three pictures of space objects. As a group they will need to predict their order from the sun. As students complete a worksheet, they will review scientific notation, unit conversions (km, mi, AU, LY). They will then convert the objects' distance from the sun to AU's and LY's. Finally, all groups will place their object on a "graph wall" according to their distance from the sun.
Course: 8th Grade Physical Science
- Material:
- Distance in Space
- Date last modified:
- June 30, 2006
- Created by:
- Katherine Vazquez
- License:
-
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Exercise
TEACHER GUIDE FOR ASSIGNMENT:
****************************************************************************************
WORKSHEET:
Name ____ ___________________
Date ________________
Period _____
Distances in Space
1) List the three space objects you were provided in order from their distance
to the sun (1 closest to sun):
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
3. ______________________
2) Powers of 10: Scientific Notation
Complete the table below:
Expanded form Scientific Notation
1.0 E10
500000000000000000000
.000000001
3) Conversions: kilometers (km) to miles (mi)
Complete the table below: (1 mi = 1.609 km)
Miles (mi) Kilometers (km)
100,000
5,900
72590325
4) More conversions: astronomical unit (AU) and light year (LY)
Complete the table below: (1 AU = 149.60 million km = 92.96 million mi,
1 LY = 9.46 E12 km = 5.88 E12 mi)
Miles (mi) Kilometers (km) Astronomical Unit (AU) Light Year (LY)
2.21
1.496 E8
5) On the bottom of each object, its distance from the sun is listed. Convert
these distances to light years and astronomical units. According to these
distances, rank them in order from their distance to the sun (1: closest to
sun).
Object Listed distance AU LY Rank (1,2 or 3)
6) On the wall chart, place your object in its appropriate location (distance
from the sun).
****************************************************************************************
WORKSHEET:
Name ____ ___________________
Date ________________
Period _____
Distances in Space
1) List the three space objects you were provided in order from their distance
to the sun (1 closest to sun):
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
3. ______________________
2) Powers of 10: Scientific Notation
Complete the table below:
Expanded form Scientific Notation
1.0 E10
500000000000000000000
.000000001
3) Conversions: kilometers (km) to miles (mi)
Complete the table below: (1 mi = 1.609 km)
Miles (mi) Kilometers (km)
100,000
5,900
72590325
4) More conversions: astronomical unit (AU) and light year (LY)
Complete the table below: (1 AU = 149.60 million km = 92.96 million mi,
1 LY = 9.46 E12 km = 5.88 E12 mi)
Miles (mi) Kilometers (km) Astronomical Unit (AU) Light Year (LY)
2.21
1.496 E8
5) On the bottom of each object, its distance from the sun is listed. Convert
these distances to light years and astronomical units. According to these
distances, rank them in order from their distance to the sun (1: closest to
sun).
Object Listed distance AU LY Rank (1,2 or 3)
6) On the wall chart, place your object in its appropriate location (distance
from the sun).
Disciplines
Audience
Technical Notes
Suggested objects to choose from (in random order):
1. Alpha-centauri (star system)
2. Mars
3. Large Magellenic Cloud
4. Saturn
5. Earth
6. Pluto
7. Eros (Asteroid)
8. Neptune
9. Small Magellenic Cloud
10. Venus
11. Orcus (KBO)
12. Uranus
13. Jupiter
14. Mercury
15. Wolf (star)
Requirements
Topics
c.Students know how to use astronomical units and light years as measures of distances between the Sun, stars, and Earth.
Type of Task
Learning Objectives
1. List objects (planets, stars, galaxies) from the sun in order.
2. Convert between units (kilometers, miles, astronomical units and light years).
3. Graph the object distances with respect to their distance from the sun.