Archived Problems
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Sunspots
Monster
Sunspots![PDF] - Grade level: 5-9 Some sunspots are so big that they can be seen
from Earth without a telescope. In this problem,
students will use images of three super-spots and
calculate their sizes from the image scaling
information. They will then order the images from the
smallest super-spot to the largest super-spot.
[Skills:multiplication, calculating
length from image scale]
Loopy
Sunspots![PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 Students will analyze data from the Hinode
satellite to determine the volume and mass of a
magnetic loop above a sunspot. From the calculated
volume, based on the formula for the volume of a
cylinder, they will use the density of the plasma
determined by the Hinode satellite to determine the
mass in tons of the magnetically trapped material.
[Skills:image scales, cylinder volume
calculation, scientific notation, unit
conversions]
The
Sunspot CYcle - endings and beginnings [PDF] - Grade
level: 6-9 Students will examine a
plot of the sunspot cycle and extract information from
the plotted data about the previous sunspot cycle, and
make predictions about the next one about to start in
2007.
[Skills:graph reading,
extrapolation, time calculations]
Hinode
- Closeup of a Sunspot [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11
Students will determine the sizes of
sunspots and solar granulation cells from a recent
image taken by the Hinode solar observatory.
[Skills:image scales, metric units,
unit conversion]
Moving
Magnetic Filaments Near Sunspots[PDF] - Grade level:
9-11 Students will use two images
from the new, Hinode (Solar-B) solar observatory to
calculate the speed of magnetic filaments near a
sunspot. The images show the locations of magnetic
features at two different times. Students calculate the
image scales in kilometers/mm and determine the time
difference to estimate the speeds of the selected
features.
[Skills: scaling,
estimation, speed calculations, time arithmetic
]
Sunspots
Close-up and Personal [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11
Students will analyze a picture of a
sunspot to learn more about its size, and examine the
sizes of various other features on the surface of the
sun that astronomers study.
Solar
Activity and Tree Rings - What's the connection? [PDF]
- Grade level: 9-11 Trees require
sunlight to grow, and we know that solar activity
varies with the sunspot cycle. Can an average tree
sense solar activity cycles and change the way it grows
from year to year? This activity uses a single tree to
compare its growth rings to the sunspot cycle. This is
also an interesting suggestion for science fair
projects! Here is the accompanying Excel
Spreadsheet Data File.
Super-sized
Sunspots and the Solar Cycle. [PDF] Students compare the dates of the largest sunspots
since 1900 with the year of the peak sunspot cycle.
They check to see if superspots are more common after
sunspot maximum or before. They also compare superspot
sizes with the area of earth.
Solar
Flares and Sunspot Sizes [PDF] Students compare sunspot sizes to the frequency of
solar flares and discover that there is no hard and
fast rule that relates sunspot size to its ability to
produce very large flares.
Observing the Sun's rotation [PDF] Students use a Sunspotter to track sunspots during
the week of November 7, 2004, and calculate the
rotation period of the sun.
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