Assignment 11- Solutions 1)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Assignment 11- Solutions 1) Assignment 11- Solutions 1) The picture above shows a source of light (the red dot), with the light shining on the origin, which is marked by the position of the green dot. The horizontal axis is the interface separating one medium from another. Some of the light reflects back into the first medium, and some refracts into the second medium. Choose the three correct statements about this situation from the list below. The first medium (where the source is) has a higher index of refraction than the second medium. FALSE- since The angle inside the blue region is smaller than outside ͢'0 Ƙ ͢*0/ The first medium has the same index of refraction as the second medium. FALSE- same. The first medium has a lower index of refraction than the second medium. TRUE-same reason. If the index of refraction of the second medium was increased, the angle of the reflected beam would change. FALSE- for the reflected wave the interface has acted like a plane mirror , it is reflected at the same angle, regardless of the second medium ’s refraction index. Changing the index of refraction of the second medium would have no effect on the angle of the reflected beam. TRUE- as the previous one, interfaces acts like a mirror. If the light source was moved to the position of the purple dot in the second medium, and the light was incident on the origin again, the light would definitely experience total internal reflection. FALSE- Snell’s law doesn’t change if we reverse the direction of the light rays. As long as the angle in the blue region is the same we have the same equation : ͢'0 sin '0 Ɣ ͢*0/ sin *0/ And so the outgoing ray will be at the same angle. The only difference is that we won’t have the reflected ray outside (instead we get one inside.) If the light source was moved to the position of the purple dot in the second medium, and the light was incident on the origin again, some light would refract out into the upper medium, traveling toward the position of the red dot. TRUE- described above. If the light source was moved to the position of the purple dot in the second medium, and the light was incident on the origin again, some light would refract out into the upper medium, but the light would not travel toward the position of the red dot. FALSE 2) The picture above shows a source of light in the lower medium (the purple dot), with the light shining on the origin, which is marked by the position of the green dot. The horizontal axis is the interface separating one medium from another. In this case, all of the light reflects back into the lower medium. Choose all the correct statements about this situation from the list below. The lower medium (where the source is) has a larger index of refraction than the upper medium. TRUE- We are observing total internal reflection while going from the lower medium to the upper one. This means that there exists a critical angle beyond which this happens and critical angles are only for going from larger index of refraction to smaller . So lower medium has larger index. The lower medium has the same index of refraction as the upper medium. FALSE- read above The lower medium has a smaller index of refraction than the upper medium. FALSE- read above The angle of incidence in this case is greater than the critical angle for total internal reflection to occur. TRUE- read above. The angle of incidence in this case is smaller than the critical angle for total internal reflection to occur. FALSE- read above. If the light source was moved to the position of the red dot in the upper medium, and the light was incident on the origin again, the light would definitely experience total internal reflection. FALSE- there won’t be total internal reflection in going from lower index to higher and, as we found before, the lower medium has higher index of refraction. If the light source was moved to the position of the red dot in the upper medium, and the light was incident on the origin again, some light would refract into the lower medium, traveling toward the position of the purple dot. FALSE- Some light would indeed refract into the lower medium, but it won’t be towards the purple dot . This we can see from Snell’s law ( blue for the lower medium): ͥ͢ sin ͥ Ɣ ͢'0 sin '0 But we know that for the in the picture no can be found ( is beyond the critical '0 ͥ '0 angle), and that is why it gets reflected. So if we put some in the equation, the that we ͥ '0 get will never be the angle in the diagram. If the light source was moved to the position of the red dot in the upper medium, and the light was incident on the origin again, some light would refract into the lower medium, but the light would not travel toward the position of the purple dot. TRUE- see above. 3) This picture shows a light source at point A, at the top left of the picture. The light which refracts into the lower medium eventually reaches point B, at the bottom right of the picture. Point A is located at x = 0 m, y = +5 m, and point B is located at x = +10 m, y = -5 m. The upper medium is air, with an index of refraction of n = 1.00. The interface separating the two media lies along the line y = 0. Take the speed of light in vacuum to be 3.00 x 10 8 m/s. An interesting fact about light is that the path it takes from A to B always minimizes the total light travel time. ̻ In other words, any other path from A to B, including the shortest-distance path, would take the light more ͥ time. One can show that this is equivalent to Snell's law. In the case shown in the picture, the time it takes the light to travel from point A to the green point, on the ͥ ͉ ̼ interface, is 26.0 ns. By using Snell's law and considering the geometry, answer the following. (a) What is the x-coordinate of the green point? ͦ We can find the distance between A and the green spot ͦ using : ͘ Ɣ ͪͨ ͬ ͡ ̻͉ Ɣ ͪͨ Ɣ 3 Ɛ 10 Ɛ 26.0 ns Ɣ 7.8 m ͧ Now this is the hypotenuse of the upper triangle. For we thus have: ͥ 5 ͦ cos ͥ Ɣ ƴ sin ͥ Ɣ ǭ1 Ǝ cos ͥ Ɣ 0.768 7.8 The horizontal position of the green dot O is therefore: ƴ ͬ Ɣ 7.8 m Ɛ sin ͥ Ɣ 5.99 m x = 5.99 m. (b) What is the index of refraction of the second medium? To figure out the index we need to use Snell’s law and for that we need the sine of the angles which is the ratio of opposite over hypotenuse and so: ͬ ͦ͢ sin ͥ Ɣ Ɣ ̻͉ ͥ͢ sin ͦ 10 Ǝ ͬ ͉̼ We first need to find OB, which is the hypotenuse of the lower triangle: ͦ ͦ ͉̼ Ɣ ǭ5 ƍ ʚ10 Ǝ ͬʛ Ɣ 6.41 m ͦ͢ Ɣ 1.23 (c) What is the total time, in nanoseconds, it takes the light to travel from point A to point B? ͉̼ ͉̼ 6.41 m Ɛ 1.23 ͨͦ Ɣ Ɣ Ɣ Ɣ 26.0 ͧ͢ ͪͦ ͗/ͦ͢ ͬ ͡ 3 Ɛ 10 ͧ Which is the same as the time in the first region (this is not a coincidence, if the vertical distance is the same the times are the same.) So the total time will be . 2 Ɛ 26 ͧ͢ Ɣ 52.2 ͧ͢ 4) A lamp emitting red light is placed at the bottom of a tank of liquid with depth H = 18.0 cm and index of refraction n = 1.56 (for red light). Above the liquid is air, which has an index of refraction of 1.00. On the surface of the liquid above the light, an observer sees a bright circle with radius R. (a) Why does the observer see a bright circle on the surface? ͌ same as the Since the lamp is the region of higher index of refraction, not all of its light-rays will be able to escape into air. The ones that hit the interface at an angle larger ͂ than the critical angle will undergo total internal reflection and beyond that point the observer outside ͆ doesn’t see light rays coming out. The angle depends on the horizontal distance on the interface from the point right above the lamp. Because the lamp is circular. False. Because the pupils in the observer's eyes are circular. False. Because light striking the surface outside of the circle experiences total internal reflection. True. (b) Calculate the radius of the bright circle seen by the observer. The outermost ray that can come out is at the critical angle, since beyond that the rays will reflect. First, the ray going at makes the hypotenuse : ͆ ͆ Ɣ ǭ͌ͦ ƍ ͂ͦ The radius R of the bright circle on the interface is related to by: ͌ ͌ sin Ɣ Ɣ ͆ √͌ͦ ƍ ͂ͦ But also: 1 1 sin Ɣ Ɣ Ɣ 0.641 ͢ 1.56 1 ͌ Ɣ ƴ ǭ͌ͦ ƍ ͂ͦ Ɣ ͌͢ ͢ √͌ͦ ƍ ͂ͦ ͌ͦ ƍ ͂ͦ Ɣ ͦ͌ͦ͢ ͂ͦ Ɣ ʚͦ͢ Ǝ 1ʛ͌ͦ ͂ 18.0 cm ƴ ͌ Ɣ Ɣ Ɣ 15.0 cm √ͦ͢ Ǝ 1 √1.56 ͦ Ǝ 1 (c) From the list below, choose the two correct statements.
Recommended publications
  • Telescopes and Binoculars
    Continuing Education Course Approved by the American Board of Opticianry Telescopes and Binoculars National Academy of Opticianry 8401 Corporate Drive #605 Landover, MD 20785 800-229-4828 phone 301-577-3880 fax www.nao.org Copyright© 2015 by the National Academy of Opticianry. All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced without permission in writing from the publisher. 2 National Academy of Opticianry PREFACE: This continuing education course was prepared under the auspices of the National Academy of Opticianry and is designed to be convenient, cost effective and practical for the Optician. The skills and knowledge required to practice the profession of Opticianry will continue to change in the future as advances in technology are applied to the eye care specialty. Higher rates of obsolescence will result in an increased tempo of change as well as knowledge to meet these changes. The National Academy of Opticianry recognizes the need to provide a Continuing Education Program for all Opticians. This course has been developed as a part of the overall program to enable Opticians to develop and improve their technical knowledge and skills in their chosen profession. The National Academy of Opticianry INSTRUCTIONS: Read and study the material. After you feel that you understand the material thoroughly take the test following the instructions given at the beginning of the test. Upon completion of the test, mail the answer sheet to the National Academy of Opticianry, 8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 605, Landover, Maryland 20785 or fax it to 301-577-3880. Be sure you complete the evaluation form on the answer sheet.
    [Show full text]
  • Astronomical Binoculars
    30˚E 15˚E OWNER’S MANUAL ASTRONOMICAL BINOCULARS ZHUMELL 20X80 SUPERGIANT ASTRONOMICAL BINOCULARS 0˚ 15˚W 75˚W 60˚W 30˚W 45˚W Zhumell customers know that there are plenty of ways to experience the world. They also understand that, however you choose to explore it, the best experience is one that fully immerses you in the world’s most striking details. That’s where our optics products come in. We strive to put high-performance products in the hands of our customers so that they can experience the world up close, with their own eyes. With Zhumell, you get field-tested, precision-crafted optics at the best possible value. So even if you’re just starting out as an amateur birder or astronomer, you don’t have to settle for entry-level products. Zhumell customers enjoy life’s pursuits, hobbies, and adventures in rich, colorful detail- the kind of detail that only high-performance optics can produce. At Zhumell, we design our binoculars, telescopes, and spotting scopes for discerning, price-conscious users who are uncompromising on quality. If you’re looking for accessibly priced optics that will bring your world within reach, you’re looking for Zhumell. Enjoy the view. 2 ENJOYING YOUR ZHUMELL ASTRONOMICAL BINOCULARS 1. Caring For Your Binoculars 2. Using Your Binoculars i. Tripod Mounting ii. Interpupillary Distance iii. Center and Diopter Focus 3. Terrestrial and Astronomical Viewing 4. Astronomical Observation Tips i. Selecting a Viewing Site ii. Seeing and Transparency iii. Dark-Adapting iv. Tracking Celestial Objects 5. Cool Views i. The Moon ii.
    [Show full text]
  • Viewing an Eclipse Safely
    ECLIPSES SOLAR an eclipse safely How to observe SOLAR ECLIPSE, OCTOBER 2014, BY LEMAN NORTHWAY Solar eclipses are quite rare and are often a major event. The SOLAR ECLIPSES Moon passes right in front of the Sun, blotting out its disc. Every time a solar eclipse occurs there are various things to look for. However, it is extremely dangerous to just go out and look up. The Sun is so bright that just looking at it can blind you, so you’ll need to prepare beforehand. There are various ways to observe eclipses safely, using both everyday materials and telescopes or binoculars. So read this leaflet Introduction to find out what happens during an eclipse and how you can see all the stages of the event safely. This booklet was written by the Royal Astronomical Society with The Society for Popular Astronomy and is endorsed by the British Astronomical Association The Royal Astronomical The Society for Popular Formed in 1890, the Society, founded in Astronomy is for British Astronomical 1820, encourages and beginners of all ages. Our Association has an promotes the study of aim is to make astronomy international reputation astronomy, solar-system fun, and our magazine, for the quality of science, geophysics and Popular Astronomy, is full its observational closely related branches of information to help and scientific work. of science. you get to know the Membership is open to www.ras.org.uk sky and get involved. We even have a special Young all persons interested in HIGGS-BOSON.COM JOHNSON: PAUL BY D Stargazers section, run by TV’s Lucie Green.
    [Show full text]
  • Can You Spot the Sunspots?
    Spot the Sunspots Can you spot the sunspots? Description Use binoculars or a telescope to identify and track sunspots. You’ll need a bright sunny day. Age Level: 10 and up Materials • two sheets of bright • Do not use binoculars whose white paper larger, objective lenses are 50 • a book mm or wider in diameter. • tape • Binoculars are usually described • binoculars or a telescope by numbers like 7 x 35; the larger • tripod number is the diameter in mm of • pencil the objective lenses. • piece of cardboard, • Some binoculars cannot be easily roughly 30 cm x 30 cm attached to a tripod. • scissors • You might need to use rubber • thick piece of paper, roughly bands or tape to safely hold the 10 cm x 10 cm (optional) binoculars on the tripod. • rubber bands (optional) Time Safety Preparation: 5 minutes Do not look directly at the sun with your eyes, Activity: 15 minutes through binoculars, or through a telescope! Do not Cleanup: 5 minutes leave binoculars or a telescope unattended, since the optics can be damaged by too much Sun exposure. 1 If you’re using binoculars, cover one of the objective (larger) lenses with either a lens cap or thick piece of folded paper (use tape, attached to the body of the binoculars, to hold the paper in position). If using a telescope, cover the finderscope the same way. This ensures that only a single image of the Sun is created. Next, tape one piece of paper to a book to make a stiff writing surface. If using binoculars, trace both of the larger, objective lenses in the middle of the piece of cardboard.
    [Show full text]
  • Nikon Binocular Handbook
    THE COMPLETE BINOCULAR HANDBOOK While Nikon engineers of semiconductor-manufactur- FINDING THE ing equipment employ our optics to create the world’s CONTENTS PERFECT BINOCULAR most precise instrumentation. For Nikon, delivering a peerless vision is second nature, strengthened over 4 BINOCULAR OPTICS 101 ZOOM BINOCULARS the decades through constant application. At Nikon WHAT “WATERPROOF” REALLY MEANS FOR YOUR NEEDS 5 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POWER, Sport Optics, our mission is not just to meet your THE DESIGN EYE RELIEF, AND FIELD OF VIEW The old adage “the better you understand some- PORRO PRISM BINOCULARS demands, but to exceed your expectations. ROOF PRISM BINOCULARS thing—the more you’ll appreciate it” is especially true 12-14 WHERE QUALITY AND with optics. Nikon’s goal in producing this guide is to 6-11 THE NUMBERS COUNT QUANTITY COUNT not only help you understand optics, but also the EYE RELIEF/EYECUP USAGE LENS COATINGS EXIT PUPIL ABERRATIONS difference a quality optic can make in your appre- REAL FIELD OF VIEW ED GLASS AND SECONDARY SPECTRUMS ciation and intensity of every rare, special and daily APPARENT FIELD OF VIEW viewing experience. FIELD OF VIEW AT 1000 METERS 15-17 HOW TO CHOOSE FIELD FLATTENING (SUPER-WIDE) SELECTING A BINOCULAR BASED Nikon’s WX BINOCULAR UPON INTENDED APPLICATION LIGHT DELIVERY RESOLUTION 18-19 BINOCULAR OPTICS INTERPUPILLARY DISTANCE GLOSSARY DIOPTER ADJUSTMENT FOCUSING MECHANISMS INTERNAL ANTIREFLECTION OPTICS FIRST The guiding principle behind every Nikon since 1917 product has always been to engineer it from the inside out. By creating an optical system specific to the function of each product, Nikon can better match the product attri- butes specifically to the needs of the user.
    [Show full text]
  • Hide & Seek Moon
    Hide & Seek Moon Children use binoculars to search for small items that an astronaut lost while walking on the Moon. The Moon is pictured on a banner hanging a short distance away. 15 minutes Drop-in 1–4 children at a time Content Learning Goals Materials • Children notice that binoculars make distant objects • Moon Banner appear closer/bigger. • Child-friendly binoculars* • Children begin to understand that binoculars help us • Small black & white images of items to tape see more detail in distant objects. to the Moon (page 7) • Astronaut sign (page 8) Optional: • Photo of the Moon (page 9) • Markers Science Practices • Children observe changes in how objects appear (bigger/closer) when using binoculars. • Children use a tool to better see the small images. SET-UP • Hang the Moon banner on a wall. • Cut out the pictures of the ten items the astronaut lost (page 7). Tape them to the Moon on the banner. • Place a short table or bench with one or more sets of binoculars about 10–12 feet from the wall with nothing obstructing the view of the Moon. Try to choose a distance such that it is difficult to recognize the items with the unaided eye, but easy with the binoculars, keeping in mind young children have sharper eyesight than adults. The ideal distance will depend on the lighting in the room. • For a drop-in program, place the astronaut sign (see page 8) on the table for parents to read to their children. * We recommend using binoculars that are visually appealing to children, properly sized for their small faces, intuitive to use, and have quality optics for a clear view.
    [Show full text]
  • 4.4 Total Internal Reflection
    n 1:33 sin θ = water sin θ = sin 35◦ ; air n water 1:00 air i.e. ◦ θair = 49:7 : Thus, the height above the horizon is ◦ ◦ θ = 90 θair = 40:3 : (4.7) − Because the sun is far away from the fisherman and the diver, the fisherman will see the sun at the same angle above the horizon. 4.4 Total Internal Reflection Suppose that a light ray moves from a medium of refractive index n1 to one in which n1 > n2, e.g. glass-to-air, where n1 = 1:50 and n2 = 1:0003. ◦ If the angle of incidence θ1 = 10 , then by Snell's law, • n 1:50 θ = sin−1 1 sin θ = sin−1 sin 10◦ 2 n 1 1:0003 2 = sin−1 (0:2604) = 15:1◦ : ◦ If the angle of incidence is θ1 = 50 , then by Snell's law, • n 1:50 θ = sin−1 1 sin θ = sin−1 sin 50◦ 2 n 1 1:0003 2 = sin−1 (1:1487) =??? : ◦ So when θ1 = 50 , we have a problem: Mathematically: the angle θ2 cannot be computed since sin θ2 > 1. • 142 Physically: the ray is unable to refract through the boundary. Instead, • 100% of the light reflects from the boundary back into the prism. This process is known as total internal reflection (TIR). Figure 8672 shows several rays leaving a point source in a medium with re- fractive index n1. Figure 86: The refraction and reflection of light rays with increasing angle of incidence. The medium on the other side of the boundary has n2 < n1.
    [Show full text]
  • Vesta Rules the February Dusk Skies 10 February 2016, by David Dickinson
    Vesta rules the February dusk skies 10 February 2016, by David Dickinson above the western horizon at sunset, right along the Cetus-Pisces border. Vesta is worth tracking down this month, as it moves south of and parallel to another solar system resident: +5.9 magnitude Uranus. Follow both Vesta and Uranus, and you can see the difference in distance between the two betrayed by their motion: Vesta covers 10 degrees through the 29 day leap month, while Uranus spans just over one degree. Vesta and Uranus are 2.9 AU and 20.5 AU away from the Earth this month, respectively. A fitting pairing with the ice giant world in the icy month of February. The brave new world of 4 Vesta snaps into focus. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Missing out on the morning planetary action? February sees all five naked eye planets in the dawn sky, though that's about to change in March. But the good news is, now is the time to hunt for a sometimes planet, sometimes asteroid in the early evening. The path of 4 Vesta and Uranus through February. Note We're talking about 4 Vesta. The 4th identified the Eris photobomb (!) Credit: Starry Night Education resident of the asteroid belt, discovered by Software Heinrich Olbers in 1807, Vesta made its way into many planetary listings in the 19th century before its demotion to asteroid. It then enjoyed a very brief six month resurgence as a planet in 2006 The waxing crescent moon also pays the pair a along with Ceres and Eris (nee Xena) before the visit, passing between the two on February 12th.
    [Show full text]
  • Lab 11: the Compound Microscope
    OPTI 202L - Geometrical and Instrumental Optics Lab 8-1 LAB 8: BINOCULARS Prism binoculars are, in reality, a pair of refractive telescopes mounted side by side, one for each of the two eyes. The advantages of binoculars over a single monocular telescope are mainly (1) corrected image orientation and (2) depth perception. Three-dimensional information gathered by using both eyes is also enhanced by the binoculars because of the wide separation of objective lenses (approximately 125 mm) compared with the typical InterPupilary Distance (IPD) of human eyes (approximately 68 mm). Binoculars use either Porro or Roof prisms between the objectives and eyepieces to provide correct image orientation. Porro binoculars are shown in Figure 8.1, with part of the case cut away to show the optical parts. The objectives are cemented achromatic pairs (doublets), or triplets, while the oculars are Kellner or achromatized Ramsden eyepieces. The dotted lines show the path of an axial ray through one pair of Porro prisms. The prisms rotate the image by 180°, so the final image is correct (the image looks the same as the object). The doubling back of the light rays in the Porro prism design has the further advantage of enabling longer focus objectives to be used in short tubes, with consequent high magnification. Figure 8.2 shows Porro prims and Roof prisms. Binoculars have many applications that sometimes have different requirements. Characteristics to take into account are (1) magnification, (2) field of view, (3) light- gathering power, and (4) size and weight. Generally, higher magnification results in narrow fields of view and vice versa.
    [Show full text]
  • Asteroid Vesta Makes Its Best Showing in 20 Years. Jupiter and Venus Still Shine Brilliantly in the Evening Sky
    Saturn comes to opposition June 27. Mars at its best in 15 years! Asteroid Vesta makes its best showing in 20 years. Jupiter and Venus still shine brilliantly in the evening sky. Mercury makes a good evening appearance. Details pages 7 & 8 In this Issue 2 Club Events Calendar 3 President’s message – Tamara Green 4 Meet our members – Bob Lieser Story 5-6 Arcturus – Orange Beacon of the Spring sky 7 Summer 2018 – Prime Time to Observe Planets 8 Mars – Best Observing show in 15 years! 8 Tips for observing planets 9 OKIE-TEX Star Party – Oct 8 to 14 Register now 10 NASA Space Place – What is the Asteroid Belt? 11 Treasurer Report – by Tim Davis 12 Jenks Planetarium Shows 12 Telescopes for Sale 13 Astronomy Club Meeting and Observing Locations 14 The “Secret Language of Astronomy” 15 2018 Club Officers and contacts Astronomy Club Events Details at http://astrotulsa.com/Events.aspx Hey Y’all! Summer is just about here! And we have some great events coming up that I hope you can all come out to and participate in. There will be a couple here and there we will need volunteers for. The first one is on Monday, June 4 at the observatory. It is a group event, the ORU Summer Science Academy. It will be a large group of middle school kids and teachers coming out to the observatory for an astronomy session. We will need to be there around 7:30 PM to set up. Kids should arrive at about 8 PM. The backup date is Tuesday, June 5 in the event of clouds on Monday.
    [Show full text]
  • Sky Events Calendar • February, March, & April 2019
    Sky Events Calendar • February, March, & April 2019 All times listed are in Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Time, according to the time in effect on that date. For more information, call the Museum at 337-291-5544 and ask to speak with someone in the planetarium. Some of these objects and events can be seen during Planetarium star parties — check the Museum web site to see a list of star parties and other events hosted by the Planetarium. Reminders of some of these events will appear on the Lafayette Science Museum Facebook page as the dates approach. The Internet and media wildly over-hype non-events like “super moons” and “blue moons” and even some actual events like meteor showers. We’ll give you more realistic information! February 2: Just before dawn look for Saturn (as bright as a bright star) with brilliant Venus above it and very bright Jupiter above Venus. The crescent moon will be between Saturn and Venus. February 3: If you are an early riser, go out about 5:30 a.m. to find brilliant Venus in the southeast. Center it in a pair of binoculars. The scattering of stars above it and to the left will be the star cluster Messier 23 about 2100 light years distant. Lower the binoculars until Venus is at the top of the view, then look to the bottom for the soft glow of Messier 8, a star forming nebula about 5200 light years distant. There will only be about a half hour of viewing before twilight begins! You can do this for the next several mornings, but the position of Venus relative to the Messier objects will change as Venus orbits the sun.
    [Show full text]
  • Activity Book Level 4
    Space Place Education Team Activity booklet Level 4 This booklet contains: Teacher’s notes for Level 4 Level 4 assessment points Classroom activities Curriculum links Classroom Activities: Use these flexible activities to develop students awareness of abstract scientific concepts. Survival on the Moon Solar System Scale Model How Can We Navigate by the Sky? Seeing Clearly with Binoculars How to take Astronomical Measurements How do we Measure the Brightness of Stars and Planets? Curriculum Links: Use these ideas to link this science topic with Literacy, Mathematics and Craft sessions. Notes for Teachers Level 4 includes Exploring the Solar System, Telescopes and Hunting for Asteroids. These cover more about how seasons happen and if this could happen on other objects in space, features and affects of the Sun and builds on the knowledge of our galaxy and beyond as well as how to find asteroids. Our Solar System The Solar System is made up of the Sun and its planetary system of eight planets, their moons, and other non-stellar objects like comets and asteroids. It formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a massive molecular cloud. Most of the System's mass is in the Sun, with the rest of the remaining mass mostly contained within Jupiter. The four smaller inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are also called terrestrial planets; are primarily made of metal and rock. The four outer planets, called the gas giants, are significantly more massive than the terrestrials. The two largest, Jupiter and Saturn, are made mainly of hydrogen and helium.
    [Show full text]