The Sun's Activity Cycle

Lab Brief #3

🎯 Your mission

Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.

⚡ The twist

Gravity is invisible — but it shapes everything.

What you'll learn

The sun goes through an 11-year cycle of activity. During solar maximum, more sunspots and solar flares occur, which can affect satellites and power grids on Earth.

Key words

sunspot
A cooler, darker region of the Sun's surface where the magnetic field is locally intense.
solar flare
A sudden release of magnetic energy from the Sun that sends charged particles toward Earth.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you check: which is closer?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "sunspot" and "solar flare" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Plot the recorded sunspot number year by year over the last 60 years and mark each maximum. Measure the interval between successive maxima, average them, and compare your figure with the quoted 11 years.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 3

The Sun's activity cycle lasts roughly:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

Sunspots appear darker than their surroundings because they are:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

Solar flares can affect Earth by disrupting:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🌟 The light from the closest star (after the sun) takes 4 years to reach you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: Dwarf Planets and Pluto All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: Every sunrise and every shadow is this idea in action.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Look at the moon tonight. Notice its shape. Look again in 3 days.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “If you could visit any planet, which would you pick and why?”

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