Lesson 29 of 84 ยท Space
Experimentโญ 30 XP๐ StarbaseAsteroids and Comets (Part 2)
Asteroids and Comets (Part 2).
๐ฏ Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
โก The twist
Gravity is invisible โ but it shapes everything.
Mind = Blown
๐ The light from the closest star (after the sun) takes 4 years to reach you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you check: which is closer?
What You'll Learn
Asteroids are rocky objects orbiting the sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets are icy objects that develop tails when they approach the sun.
Key Words
- asteroid
- comet
Materials Needed
- foil
- scissors
- flashlight
Safety First
- Do not mix unknown chemicals together.
Steps
Review the background information on Space before starting.
Track the moon's phase each night for two weeks. Draw what you see and identify the pattern.
Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.
Create a data table to organize your measurements.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is the closest star to Earth?
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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