Stellar Astronomy
PIRA Classification 8B
8B10. The Sun
PIRA # |
Demonstration Name |
Subsets |
Abstract |
8B10.10 |
60 Watt Sun |
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Add abstract in Handbook.FM |
8B10.20 |
The Solar Constant |
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Accurate methods to calculate the amount of energy the Earth receives from the Sun. See The Physics Teacher - TPT, 42(4), 196 |
8B10.20 |
Solar Constant |
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8B10.20 |
Solar Constant Lab |
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Inexpensive equipment used to measure the solar constant. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 15(3), 172 |
8B10.22 |
Solar Energy |
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Measurement of solar energy from the Sun. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 45(10), 981 |
8B10.24 |
Solar Luminosity |
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Estimating hc/k from observations of sunlight. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 73(10), 979 |
8B10.24 |
Solar Luminosity |
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Experiments measuring the solar constant used to calculate the luminosity of the Sun. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 74(8), 728 |
8B10.24 |
Solar luminosity |
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Use a light bulb of known wattage to calculate the luminosity of the Sun. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 29(2), 96 |
8B10.25 |
Solar Wien Peak |
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A discussion of why the human eye sees best at the yellow-green wavelengths which is well away from the Wien peak. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 71(3), 216 |
8B10.25 |
Solar Wien Peak |
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A calculation that puts the Sun's Wien peak at 710 nm. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 71(12), 322 See also AJP 71(6), 519. |
8B10.30 |
The Sun's Temperature |
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How to calculate the Sun's temperature from known data. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 17(8), 531 |
8B10.35 |
The Sun's Diameter |
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How to use a pinhole to calculate the diameter of the Sun. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 38(5), 272 |
8B10.35 |
The Sun's Size |
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Using ratios and models in class to bring the size of the Sun into perspective. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 38(2), 115 |
8B10.35 |
The Sun's Size |
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How the observed size of the Sun changes from perihelion to aphelion. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 39(4), 249 |
8B10.35 |
The Sun's Diameter |
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Use an index card with a small hole and a meter stick to determine the diameter of the Sun. |
8B10.40 |
Lava Lamp |
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Making a lava lamp which can be used to show convection cells. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 46(4), 219 |
8B10.50 |
Sunspots |
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8B10.50 |
Sunspot on the Overhead |
pira200 |
A light bulb on a variac is turned up to visible glow and placed on an overhead projector that is turned off. When the overhead is turned on, the filament appears as a dark spot. |
8B10.50 |
Sunspot Hallway Demo |
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In a brightly lit room open the door to a dimly lit hallway. The hallway appears dark. Gradually dim the room lights and observe how the hallway dramatically lights up. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 35(6), 334 |
8B10.60 |
Random Walk |
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Flip coin to model 1-d random walk. Execute a computer program or shake a pan of ping pong balls or tennis balls to model a 2-d random walk. |
8B10.60 |
Random Walk - Modeling the Energy Outflow in Stars |
pira200 |
Use a Bumble Ball ( a common toy ) to illustrate the random walk of high energy photons in a star. See The Physics Teacher - TPT,37(4), 236 |
8B10.70 |
Solar Oscillations |
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8B10.80 |
Stellar/Nuclear Fusion |
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A model built from magnets to demonstrate the forces in nuclear fusion. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 62(9), 804 |
8B10.80 |
Stellar Fusion |
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A look at fission and fusion and a determination as to which processes or nuclei release more energy. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 43(5), 303 |
8B10.90 |
Poynting-Robertson Effect |
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How to demo the Poynting-Robertson effect using an air track, air cart, and an air hose blowing air down onto the air track. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 42(2), 119 |
8B20. Stellar Spectra
PIRA # |
Demonstration Name |
Subsets |
Abstract |
8B20.10 |
Stellar Spectra |
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Using stellar spectra to classify stars according to temperature. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 38(1), 35 |
8B20.20 |
Doppler Effect & Stellar Spectra |
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A flaw in the argument of observed red shifts as proof of an expanding universe. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 26(2), 102 |
8B20.20 |
Doppler Effect & Stellar Spectra |
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The effect of the Doppler shift on the spectrum of stars as observed by space travelers. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 35(3), 160 |
8B20.20 |
Doppler Effect & Stellar Spectra |
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How the energy of a photon is directly proportional to frequency and how this is not a violation of energy conservation when applied to the observed Doppler effect. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 21(9), 616 |
8B20.20 |
Doppler Effect & Stellar Spectra |
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A further discussion on energy conservation and the Doppler effect. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 22(6), 350 |
8B20.40 |
Gamma Ray Line Astronomy |
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Gamma ray line astronomy (GRLA) used to detect spectral features from stars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 19(8), 527 |
8B30. Stellar Evolution
PIRA # |
Demonstration Name |
Subsets |
Abstract |
8B30.10 |
Stellar Magnitude Simulator |
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Six LEDs are adjusted so they appear to form a linear progression from dim to bright. The actual brightness is then measured. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 46(8),813 |
8B30.10 |
Stellar Magnitude |
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An explanation of stellar magnitude and how it is used. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 29(5), 273 |
8B30.20 |
HR diagram |
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Why is the Sun so large. Deriving a lower limit on the radius and mass of a hydrogen-burning star. Why 90 percent of stars lie in the "main sequence". See American Journal of Physics - AJP 74(10), 938 |
8B30.20 |
HR Diagram |
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Transformation of a main sequence star to a red giant is discussed. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 68(5), 421 |
8B30.20 |
HR Diagram |
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Using part of the PSSC text to teach about the HR diagram. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 27(4), 231 |
8B30.20 |
HR Diagram |
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A discussion of a simple but often missed important implication of the Main Sequence. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 34(6), 327 |
8B30.20 |
HR Diagram |
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A student-centered, learning-cycle approach to teaching star life cycles. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 42(6), 347 |
8B30.20 |
HR Diagram |
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The use of variable stars as a means to observe aging of stars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 25(7), 420 |
8B30.30 |
Stellar Lifecycle |
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Inquiry based Stellar lifecycle exercise. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 42(6), 347 |
8B30.30 |
Stellar Lifecycle |
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How the force of gravity can be responsible for the birth and death of stars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 17(4), 278 |
8B30.30 |
Stellar Lifecycle |
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A look at how a star is born and the processes that determine it's lifecycle. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 10(4), 182 |
8B30.30 |
Stellar Lifecycle |
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Part 2 of a look at how a star is born and the processes that determine it's lifecycle. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 10(6), 299 |
8B30.35 |
Binary Star System |
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How to observe eclipsing binary stars and make a model from an "N" gauge railroad set and light bulbs. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 7(8), 453 |
8B30.35 |
Binary Star System |
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A discussion of the aberration of light from a binary star system. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 35(9), 817 |
8B30.35 |
Binary Star System |
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Two different size balls on a rod can be used to model a binary star system. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 28(6), 425 |
8B30.35 |
Binary Star System |
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A model eclipsing binary star system using light bulbs. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 17(7), 456 |
8B30.40 |
Variable Star Simulation |
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A ball eclipses a lamp. The output from a phototransistor is conditioned by a ADC/microcomputer/DAC on the way to an oscilloscope display. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 51(7),668 |
8B30.40 |
Variable Stars |
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Variable stars are used to provide information about properties, processes, and evolution of stars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 31(9), 541 |
8B30.42 |
Supernova |
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Resource Letter: OTS-1: Obervations and theory of supernovae. Also, many books and review articles. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 71(1), 11 |
8B30.42 |
Synthesized Variable Star |
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Use a PROM to store the curves for variable stars. No microprocessor, the curve is generated with a simple hardware circuit. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 46(11),1197 |
8B30.42 |
Variable Star Simulation |
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A dimmer control is varied by a cam on a motor drive. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 44(12),1227 |
8B30.42 |
Digital Variable Star |
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A simple circuit drives a lamp with data stored in EPROM to generate real light curves from various types of variable stars. Also includes discussion of a classroom photometer. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 54(11),976 |
8B30.45 |
Supernova |
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What happens and what results from the death of a star. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 9(6), 326 |
8B30.45 |
Supernova |
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The Crab Nebula and some results from the death of a star. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 7(1), 24 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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Velocity amplification in collision experiments involving Superballs. Analysis and how to make the demonstration. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 39(6), 656 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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Use the double ball bounce to illustrate supernova core bounce. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 28(8),558 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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Use the "Astro-Blaster" toy to demonstrate the supernova core bounce. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 33(6), 358 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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Other combinations of ball that can be used to demonstrate a supernova core bounce. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 33(9), 548 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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Analysis of multiple ball collisions and suggestions for safer multiple ball collision demonstrations. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 30(1), 46 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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How to make an aligner for elastic collision of multiple dropped balls. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 33(1), 56 |
8B30.50 |
Supernova Core Bounce |
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Comments on non-ideal multiball collisions. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 30(4), 197 |
8B30.55 |
Flashbulb Supernova |
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Add abstract in Handbook.FM |
8B30.60 |
Neutron Stars |
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Neutron star projects for undergraduates. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 72(7), 892 |
8B30.65 |
Pulsar Model |
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8B30.70 |
Pulsar Recording |
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8B30.70 |
Pulsars |
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Observations of pulsars used in the lab or the classroom. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 46(5), 530 |
8B30.70 |
Pulsars |
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Observations and speculation of 4 pulsars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 9(5), 232 |
8B30.72 |
X-Ray Pulsar |
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Calculation of the "spindown" rate of the x-ray pulsar SGR 1806-20. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 68(8), 775 |
8B30.75 |
White Dwarfs |
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8B30.90 |
Nebula |
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8B30.95 |
Forward and Backward Acattering |
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Clap erasers in front of and behind a clear 60 W lamp. See University of Minnesota Handbook - 8B10.40 |
8B30.95 |
Forward and Backward Scattering |
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Aim a laser or laser pointer through a fish tank filled with water that has a small amount of Pine-Sol added to it. Forward, side, and back scattering can be observed. |
8B40. Black Holes
PIRA # |
Demonstration Name |
Subsets |
Abstract |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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Look inside a black hole. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 45(5), 423 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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How long can an observer wait before rescuing an object falling into a black hole. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 56(1), 27 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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On the radius of black holes. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 42(11), 1039 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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A simple model for the emission of particles by black holes. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 46(6),678 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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Two analytical models of gravitational collapse. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 73(12), 1148 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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Part 1. To convey the properties of black hole to students it is useful to put them human terms, such as "The hazards of encountering a black hole". See The Physics Teacher - TPT 23(9), 540 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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Some simple black hole thermodynamics. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 41(5), 299 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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How dense is a black hole?? See The Physics Teacher - TPT 39(2), 84 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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Part 2. To convey the properties of black hole to students it is useful to put them human terms, such as "The hazards of encountering a black hole". See The Physics Teacher - TPT 24(1), 29 |
8B40.10 |
Black Holes |
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A black hole in our galactic center. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 46(1), 10 |
8B40.20 |
Black Hole Surface |
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A large fiberglass black hole potential surface from some museum in Philly. See University of Minnesota Handbook - 8C20.10 |
8B40.30 |
Membrane Table / black hole |
pira200 |
Swimsuit fabric stretched over a wood frame is deformed with a weight and balls are rolled around. See University of Minnesota Handbook - 8C20.20 |
8B40.35 |
Potential Well/Hill |
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How to make a potential well or hill from a Pexiglas sheet on a frame. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 16(7), 504 |
8B40.40 |
Gravity Well |
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Use this demonstration when discussing black holes and gravity wells. |
8B40.50 |
Magnetic Field Coupling |
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8B50. Stellar Miscellaneous
PIRA # |
Demonstration Name |
Subsets |
Abstract |
8B50.10 |
Distance to Stars |
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How to construct an "Astronomy Angulator" to calculate small angles to assist in naked-eye observations. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 39(3), 187 |
8B50.20 |
Stellar Diameter Measurement |
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The angular separation of two artificial stars is measured by the Michelson method of measuring stellar diameters. Diagrams, Reference: AJP 27(2),101. |
8B50.30 |
Interferometry |
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Stellar interferometers used to measure the angular diameters of stars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 39(7), 428 |
8B50.40 |
Stellar Energy Radiation |
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A look at the processes that determine the energy radiated by a star. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 28(8), 526 |
8B50.50 |
Stellar Radiation |
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What does it take to make a sun shine. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 46(1), 23 |
8B50.60 |
Lookback Time |
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Note historic events going on when light from specific distant stars started its journey to Earth. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 31(7), 422 |
8B50.60 |
Lookback Time |
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Lookback times and how to calculate them. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 27(7), 518 |
8B50.70 |
Olbers' Paradox |
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Why is the sky dark at night when there are so many stars. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 45(2), 119 |
8B50.70 |
Olbers' Paradox |
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The expansion of the universe may also be used to explain Olbers' paradox. See American Journal of Physics - AJP 46(9), 923 |
8B50.70 |
Olbers' Paradox |
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Why is the sky dark at night when there are so many stars. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 38(2), 122 |
8B50.80 |
Gamma Ray Bursts |
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Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB's) and the effects of time dialation and time contraction. See The Physics Teacher - TPT 36(3), 176 |