Lessons Overview
This lesson provides a summarized version of material found in each of the other five lessons. Although we strongly encourage you to delve into the more detailed subject matter presented in those five lessons, we recognize that not all classes have the opportunity to devote a significant amount of time to the STARLAB supporting materials. Thus, we provide this condensed lesson that addresses only the major points presented in each of the five in-depth content lessons.Standards
This lesson highlights some components of the National Science Education Content Standards:
- Standard A: Science as Inquiry, 9-12
- Standard B: Physical Science, 9-12
- Standard E: Science and Technology, 9-12
- Standard G: History and Nature of Science, 9-12
- 9-12
Upon completion of this lesson and in preparation for entering the STARLAB, students should be able to accomplish the following:
- Define wavelength, amplitude, frequency, period, and speed of a waveform
- Articulate characteristics of an electromagnetic wave
- Examine the electromagnetic spectrum and electromagnetic waves
- Define optical astronomy and radio astronomy
- Identify the tools of optical and radio astronomy
- List objects that can be observed in visible and in radio wavelengths
- Describe what we learn about these objects in optical and in radio wavelengths
- Differentiate between thermal and synchrotron radiation
- Identify characteristics of radio stars, planets, radio galaxies, nebulae, interstellar space, quasars, and black holes as they are observed in radio wavelengths
- Describe the process of star creation and explain what radio astronomy allows us to learn about this process that optical astronomy does not
- Describe the different processes of star death for different types of stars
- Describe the discovery of the pulsar
- Define neutron stars and identify their characteristics
- Identify some characteristics of pulsars
- List some examples of well-studied pulsars