Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica
Labs from YSI 95 :
Sun's Path.
April Whitt
CARA Yerkes Summer Institute, August 1995
This is the staff copy of the lab.
Introduction
Students will use clear plastic hemispheres and markers to record the
apparent motion of the Sun across the sky. They will also write
directions for this activity.
Materials needed
- clear plastic hemisphere
- stiff cardboard
- "dot" worksheet (sheet of paper with dot in center)
- fine point marker
Procedure
Using the position of the data sheets for the shadow records, tape
the dot worksheet to the cardboard. Place the plastic hemisphere on
the sheet so that the zenith of the dome is over the dot.
Hold the marker so that its shadow falls on the dot, through the
plastic dome. When the shadow of the point falls exactly on the dot,
mark that spot on the outside of the hemisphere with the marker.
Repeat at 15-20 minute intervals.
Students will observe the pattern of dots and explain what the
pattern is and why it looks as it does, then predict how it will be
different when they return in December.
Plastic hemispheres for this summer were donated by Greg Gansz of Learning
Technologies, 59 Walden Street, Cambridge, MA, 02140, phone
800-537-8703.
Important Disclaimers and
Caveats:
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Last modified Thursday, 23-Jul-1998 17:35:46 CDT
http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/outreach/resources/ysi95/sunspath.html