Lesson 25 of 84 ยท Space
Experimentโญ 30 XP๐ StarbaseStars: Balls of Hot Gas (Part 2)
Stars: Balls of Hot Gas (Part 2).
๐ฏ Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
โก The twist
Up there, the rules of down here stop working.
Mind = Blown
๐ช A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.
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
Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.
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.
Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.
Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is a constellation?
Where you see this in real life
GPS, weather forecasts, and the seasons all rely on this.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Find a constellation in the sky. Look it up. Tell someone its story.
For the dinner table
โIf you could visit any planet, which would you pick and why?โ
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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