THE SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT: TOPIC: THE SUN Required Project Content for an Oral/Poster Presentation on THE SUN - What it s made of - Age and how it formed (provide pictures or diagrams) - What is an AU? - What are CME s (picture or diagram required); Do they happen all the time?; - What are Solar Flares (picture or diagram required); Do they happen all the time? - What is the Solar Cycle (graph showing this required); Why does the sun go through a cycle what causes it?; What are sun spots and when do they show up?; How big are they? - Aurora(s) (what are they and where do we observe these?) - Show the Sun, Earth and Jupiter in a scaled diagram where the diameter of the Sun equals 200 mm - Does it have a rotation period? If so explain it. - Does it have a magnetic field? If so explain it. - How does it produce energy?; How long will it continue to produce energy? - Temperature of it s different parts - Discuss the Solar Wind : What is it?; Is it dangerous?; Does it affect the Earth?; - What is SOHO? Describe what it does. (include some pictures of it s work)
THE SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT: TOPIC: OORT CLOUD AND KUIPER BELT Required Project Content for an Oral/Poster Presentation on OORT CLOUD AND KUIPER BELT - What are they? - Where are they? - How big are they? (show their relative size to the solar system in a diagram) - What do you find in them? - What is a comet made of? - Discuss Halley s Comet : where is it right now (distance from Earth, constellation and coordinates RA/Dec diagram/picture; what is the shape and orientation (tilt) of it s orbit compared to the planets diagram picture?; - Discuss comet tails : why do they have one? ; Is it there all the time and when does it have a tail?; what is the tail made of?; diagram picture of a comet with tail(s). - A comet collided with Jupiter not that long ago. Discuss the details: when did this happen?; what comet was it?; what happened to the comet before it actually hit? - Discuss meteors and meteorites : What are they?; Where do they come from?; Why do meteor showers happen and how are they related to comets?; How often do meteor showers happen?; Where and when can we see one? - Discuss the Tunguska Event?: Where did it happen?; What was it like?; When did it happen?; What happened there? (include pictures or diagrams)
THE SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT: TOPIC: ASTEROID BELT Required Project Content for an Oral/Poster Presentation on ASTEROID BELT - What is it? - Where is it? - What do you find in it? - Why is it there? - What shape does it have? (provide a scale diagram showing Earth s orbit, Mars orbit, asteroid belt and Jupiter s orbit where the scale is 1 AU = 2 cm - What are NEA s?; There are three groups of them what are they called and approximately how far away from Earth are they? - Discuss the Trojans : What are they?; Where are they in terms of Lagrange points; What is a Lagrange point? - Discuss Eros, 951 Gaspra and Ida: What are they? ; Where are they? (diagram constellation and coordinates RA/Dec); What is their revolution? (how long) (provide diagrams / pictures) - Discuss C-type, M-type and S-type: - Why is an asteroid NOT a planet? - How many are there (estimated)?
THE SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT: TOPIC: INNER PLANETS Required Project Content for an Oral/Poster Presentation on INNER PLANETS - What are their names and where did the names come from? - Discuss their formation: How old are they?; How did they form? Why are they NOT gas giants like the outer planets? - What is their rotation (how long and which direction?), revolution (how long in earth years and which direction) and tilt of axis? - What are they made of? - Discuss their moons: Do they have any?; What are their names, rotation and revolution? Where did the moons come from? - How big are they? (a scaled diagram showing all 4 inner planets when Earth has a diameter of 20 mm) - Discuss their atmospheres: what are they made of?; where did the atmosphere come from?; - What is retrograde motion (include a diagram) - Where can you see them at this time (NOT the Earth)? (diagram constellation and coordinates RA/Dec) - Discuss their surface temperature average or range; What is the temperature range for each?; Why do they have that temperature range? - Discuss their magnetic field: do they have one?
THE SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT: TOPIC: OUTER PLANETS Required Project Content for an Oral/Poster Presentation on OUTER PLANETS - What are their names and where did the names come from? - Discuss their formation: How old are they?; How did they form? Why are they NOT smaller and rocky like the inner planets? - What is their rotation (how long and which direction?), revolution (how long in earth years and which direction) and tilt of axis?; A scaled diagram showing their orbit diameter size when an AU = 2mm - What are they made of?; Do they have ANY solid surface? - Discuss their moons: Do they have any?; If they do, how many does each have? Where did the moons come from?; What are the Galilean moons?; Describe their rotation and revolution.; What are the four largest moons of Saturn?; Describe their rotation and revolution. - How big are they? (scaled diagram showing all 4 outer planets when Jupiter has a diameter of 30 mm) - Discuss their atmospheres: what are they made of?; where did the atmosphere come from?; - What is retrograde motion (include a diagram) - Where can you see them at this time? (diagram constellation and coordinates RA/Dec) - Discuss their surface temperature average or range; What is the temperature range for each?; Why do they have that temperature range? - Discuss their magnetic field: do they have one?
THE SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT: TOPIC: DWARF/MINOR PLANETS Required Project Content for an Oral/Poster Presentation on DWARF/MINOR PLANETS - How many are there? - What are their names and where did the names come from? - Discuss their formation: How old are they?; How did they form? Why are they NOT just planets what makes them dwarf planets? - What is their rotation (how long and which direction?), revolution (how long in earth years and which direction) and tilt of axis?; Scaled diagram showing their orbit diameter size when an AU = 1mm - What are they made of?; Do they have ANY solid surface? - What is retrograde motion (include a diagram) - Where can you see them at this time? (diagram constellation and coordinates RA/Dec) - Explain why/how Pluto was demoted to a dwarf - Discuss the current space mission to Pluto; What s the name of the spacecraft?; Have spacecraft ever visited there yet?; How long will it take to get there?; How fast is the spacecraft going that is traveling there?; What will the spacecraft do when it arrives what s it going to do there? - Describe Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 : What did they do?; Where are they now? (diagram constellation and coordinates RA/Dec); how fast are they traveling?; Can we still communicate with them?
SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT RUBRIC 50 points TOPIC Group Leader Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: POINTS: All Required Project Content Included (facts and diagrams): / 40 (Oral presentation canceled) Neatness: / 5 Well Organized: / 5 EXTRA CREDIT: 12 POINTS POSSIBLE / 12 In the space below, describe HOW your group has gone above and beyond the requirements of this project: How many extra credit points does your group deserve? / 12