PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

8A05.10

Calender Wheels

Native American celestial calendar wheels and how to construct them. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 37(8), 476]

8A05.15

Stonehenge

Many models of this famous megalith are available.

8A05.16

Megaliths

Some historical background on megalithic astronomy. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 45(2), 125]

8A05.20a

Constellations

Constellations used to interpret historical legends. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT, 31(6), 383]

8A05.20b

Constellations

The Big Dipper used to tell time. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT, 29(2), 80]

8A05.30a

Eratosthenes measurement of Earth's radius

Eratosthenes determination of the circumference of the Earth updated by doing the experiment from an aircraft. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 25(8), 500]

8A05.30b

Eratosthenes measurement of Earth's radius

Eratosthenes experiment redone using meter sticks instead of wells. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 26(3), 154]

8A05.30c

Measurement of Earth's radius

The calculation done using feet and miles. Also several other neat problems using Earth's radius as a starting point. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 31(9), 519]

8A05.30d

Measurement of Earth's diameter

A GPS is used to calculate the diameter of the Earth. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 38(6), 360]

8A05.30e

Eratosthenes measurement of Earth's radius

Trying to calculate the radius of the Earth by watching the Sun set twice, once from the bottom and then from the top of a tall building. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 31(7), 440]

8A05.30f

Eratosthenes - scale of Earth/Moon/Sun system

Using Eratosthenes calculation of the diameter of the Earth to calculate the size of the Moon. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 38(3), 179]

8A05.33

Eudoxus: homocentric spheres models

Two homocentric models of Eudoxus: one shows the motion of the Sun, the other shows retrograde motion. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP, 31(6),456]

8A05.35

Ptolemaic and Copernican orbits

An analog computer (circuit given) displays orbits and epicycles on an oscilloscope. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP, 30(9),615]

8A05.40a

Kepler and planetary orbits

A photographic solution to Kepler's laws. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP, 69(4), 481]

8A05.40b

Kepler and planetary orbits

An unusual verification of Kepler's first law. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP, 69(10), 1036]

8A05.40c

Kepler and planetary orbits

A graphical representation of Kepler's third law. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 36(4), 212]

8A05.40d

Kepler and planetary orbits

Kepler's third law calculations without a calculator. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 42(9), 530]

8A05.40e

Kepler and planetary orbits

Kepler's third law and the rise time of stars. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 25(8), 493]

8A05.40f

Kepler and planetary orbits

Applying Kepler's third law to elliptical orbits. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 34(1), 42]

8A05.40g

Kepler and planetary orbits

Measuring an asteroids orbit to test Kepler's first and second law. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 36(1), 40]

8A05.50

Sundial

A Plexiglas model of a sundial. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 52(2),185]

8A05.50

Sundial

Detailed descriptions, pictures, and how to time correct a sundial. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 10(3), 117]

8A05.50

Sundial, solar pocket watch

Picture of a portable sundial (solar pocket watch) dated 1573. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 41(5), 268]

8A05.50

Sundial

Constructing a portable sundial. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 37(2), 113]

8A05.50

Sundial, solar pocket watch

Additional observations on [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 41(5), 268].

8A05.55

Horizontal sundial

An analytic solution for determining the markings on a sundial and a description of construction. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 42(5),372]

8A05.60

Cross-staff

Cut a meter stick into 57 1/3 cm and 42 2/3 cm. (At 57 1/3 cm one degree equals one cm.) Some refinements. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 33(2),165]

8A05.70

Sextant

Pictures of and directions for sextants.

8A05.70

Sextant

An easily constructed mini-sextant and directions for it's use. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 38(4), 238]

8A05.80

Artificial Horizon

A mercury filled dish that is used for an artificial horizon when taking measurements with a sextant during times when the real horizon is obscured.

8A05.85

Chronometer

An accurate ships time piece used in conjunction with the sextant to determine longitude and latitude.

8A05.90

Heliostat

Picture of a heliostat. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 38(3),391]

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

8A10.05

Origin of the Solar System

Discussion on how the Solar System was formed. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 5(8), 363]

8A10.10a

Orrery model

A motor-driven model of the Sun, Moon, Earth system.

8A10.10b

Orrery model

A mechanical model of the inner planets.

8A10.15

Scale of the Solar System - Video

8A10.15

Inflatable Solar System

8A10.15

Solar System on a String

8A10.15

Scale model of the Solar System

The scale model of the Solar System as a hallway demo. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 16(4), 223]

8A10.15

Scale model of the Solar System

The 1:10 billion Colorado Scale-Model Solar System on the University of Colorado-Boulder campus. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 29(6), 371]

8A10.15

Scale model of the Solar System

Globes and balloons used to model the planets of the Solar System. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 27(1), 38]

8A10.16

Scale of the orbital radii of the planets

A hat pin, roll of tape, and some markers used to scale the orbital radii of the planets. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 43(2), 120]

8A10.20

Locating stars

A simple analytical method at the descriptive astronomy level for locating stars. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 53(6),591]

8A10.20

Locating stars

Using the stars of the Big Dipper to teach vectors. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 44(3), 168]

8A10.22

Tracking stars, Sun, and Moon

Construction of an electromechanical device that automatically and continually tracks celestial objects. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 78 (11), 1128]

8A10.25

Diurnal motion

Punch holes in a can bottom in the big dipper pattern and place over a point source of light. Rotate the can. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 43(1),113]

8A10.30

Planispheric planetarium

Description of a homemade planetarium.

8A10.30

Small planetarium

Description of a small homemade planetarium dome.

8A10.33

Day & night

8A10.35

Local zenith

See [http://groups.physics.umn.edu/demo/old_page/astronomy.html University of Minnesota Handbook - 8A10.20]

8A10.40

Sidereal time

An explanation of how a sidereal day differs from a solar day and how to calculate the difference. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 29(5), 265]

8A10.42

Sidereal day

A simple method to measure the length of the sidereal day. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 30(9), 558]

8A10.44

Sidereal year

Use orbital mechanics and centripetal force to calculate the sidereal year. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 32(2), 111]

8A10.50

Precession of the equinox graph

A graph that shows the precession of the equinox from 1890 to 2000 and a discussion of its pedagogical value. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 55(9),848]

8A10.60

Apparent motion of the sun

The autumn and spring equinoxes do not have equal length days and nights. Index of refraction through the atmosphere makes the day about 9 minutes longer than the night. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 35(3), 167]

8A10.70

Distortion due to refraction by Earth atmosphere

On the flatness of the setting sun. See [http://scitation.aip.org/ajp/ AJP 71(4), 379]

8A10.70

Distortion due to refraction by Earth atmosphere

A demonstration using sugar water to show why the Sun appears elliptical instead of round when viewed through the atmosphere. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 29(9), 566]

8A10.70

Distortion due to refraction by Earth atmosphere

The appearance of the flattening of the solar disk and the appearance of the "anti-Sun" captured on film. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 35(9), 553]

8A10.70

Distortion due to refraction by Earth atmosphere

The apparent ellipticity of the setting Sun. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 20(6), 404]

8A10.75

Distortion due to refraction by Earth atmosphere

A complete explanation of distortions produced by the atmosphere. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 39(2), 92]

8A10.80

Geochron

The standard Geochron is used to show analemma, the part of the Earth lit by the Sun at any given time, etc. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/

8A10.80

Subsolar point

An experiment plotting the subsolar point (the place on Earth where the Sun is directly overhead at solar noon). See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 29(5), 318]

8A10.80

Analemma

Additional comments on [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 34(1), 58]

8A10.80

Analemma

A good explanation of how the analemma couples the seasonal declination changes of the Sun with the "Equation of Time". See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 34(6), 355]

8A10.80

Analemma

Analemma used to show why sunrise can be at the same time for several weeks while the length of the day increases. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 34(1), 58]

8A10.80

Analemma

How to plot and demonstrate the noncircularity of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 38(9), 570]

8A10.80

Analemma, clocks, apparent motion of the Sun

Explains why the length of the morning and afternoon do not increase in the same proportion as the length of the day gets longer. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 23(2), 85]

8A10.90

Apparent motion of the Sun

Using simple equipment to measure the length of the solar day. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 34(6), 351]

8A10.90

Apparent motion of the Sun

Using the apparent motion of the Sun to teach vectors and scalar products. See [http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/ TPT 35(5), 310]

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

8A20.10

globes

8A30.10

cratering

8A20.30

cratering

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.21

planetary density model

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.41

make a comet

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.42

Ed's comet

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.64

[:Earth-Moon-Sun Model]

A 10" globe, a painted tennis ball, and a 100 W bulb are used to represent the Earth-Moon-Sun system

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8A10.25

phases of the moon

View a ball illuminated by a distant light with a TV camera as the angle between the ball and light varies.

8A10.26

phases models

Illuminated models for showing the phases of Venus and the Moon.

8A10.30

eclipse models

8A10.31

Eudoxus: homocentric spheres models

Two homocentric models of Eudoxus: one shows the motion of the sun, the other shows retrograde motion.

8A10.32

earth/moon system

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A10.40

pinhead earth

8A10.50

horizon astronomy model

8A10.51

Cinhelium

8A10.52

Ptolemaic and Copernian orbits

An analog computer (circuit given) displays orbits and epicycles on an oscilloscope.

8A10.55

retrograde motion model

Two balls connected with a rod fixed through one ball and sliding through the other orbit on common ficus.

8A10.55

retrograde motion model letter

Pointer to AJP 43,693(1975).

8A10.55

retrograde motion model

Two balls driven by independent clock motors are connected with a rod fixed through one ball and sliding through the other.

8A10.60

epicycles

An Orrery caries a small flashlight on a rod between Earth and Jupiter to project epicycloidal motion.

8A10.60

epicycles

A elliptical Lucite dish has two arms attached to one foci. Place some ball bearings between the two arms and rotate the rear arm at constant angular velocity.

8A10.60

epicycles

A diagram of how to make a fairly simple crank device to trace out elliptical through cusped figures with a penlight.

8A10.65

comet orbit

8A10.80

celestial sphere

A simple model celestial sphere is made from a round bottom flask. Pictures.

8A10.80

celestial sphere

A simple model celestial sphere is made from a round bottom flask. Pictures.