25

Lesson 25 of 84 ยท Space

Experimentโญ 30 XP๐Ÿš€ Starbase

Stars: Balls of Hot Gas (Part 2)

๐ŸงชLab Brief #25

Stars: Balls of Hot Gas (Part 2).

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

โšก The twist

Up there, the rules of down here stop working.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐Ÿช A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: what would happen on the moon vs. on Earth?

What You'll Learn

Stars are massive balls of hot gas that produce light and heat through nuclear fusion. Our sun is a medium-sized star that provides the energy needed for life on Earth.

Key Words

  • galaxy
  • star
  • planet

Materials Needed

  • flashlight
  • ball (Earth)
  • small ball (moon)
  • dark room
  • paper plate

Safety First

  • Use materials only as directed in the experiment.
  • Keep small objects away from young children.
  • Work in a well-ventilated area when using vinegar or other strong-smelling substances.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Model Earth's tilt and seasons: hold a globe tilted at 23.5ยฐ and walk it around a lamp (the sun). Observe which hemisphere gets more direct light at each position.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is a constellation?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

GPS, weather forecasts, and the seasons all rely on this.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Find a constellation in the sky. Look it up. Tell someone its story.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œIf you could visit any planet, which would you pick and why?โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

โšกShare card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Space for 8th Grade

Get the full Space track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

View in Shop

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty

Browse our shop to find activities your kids will love