Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica
CARA Outreach / Yerkes Summer Institutes / Schedule from
1995
This document assumes you have read the general
information on the YSIs.
Introduction
Themes will focus on the Sun and the Moon, because they will be our primary
astronomical objects this time. Our goal is to perform an interlocking set of
activities. Besides simply experiencing well-guided, hands-on astronomy, by the
end of the week the students should, we hope, be able to :
- describe the surface of the Moon and discuss the lunar changes in the sky
- describe how the Sun derives its energy
- explain the Sun's daily motion
- draw a diagram of the Sun's surface and explain how it rotates
- read and interpret a lunar chart
- describe how a simple telescope works, build and use one.
- describe angles in the sky and how to measure them
- explain the inverse square law and how it affects the flux of
energy from the Sun and stars
- explain the wave nature of light in the most basic terms and give
examples of electromagnetic waves from radio to visible light.
We can expect three student teams: Re, Khonsu & Horus-Shetaui.
Numbers, though a little uncertain in one case, will be about eight on each
team. Leadership students will accompany and lead their teams in the
activities. Wisecup said that the mix is about 50/50 in terms of students
who've been to Yerkes vs. those for whom this will be the first time.
Most instructors will have one additional student assistant who will
help with the lab in a TA role. I've tried to talk with everyone and
determine where the need is greatest. Sunday afternoon, starting at
1:00 PM, each instructor will have time to describe their activities
to these teachers and the leadership students. Be sure to give them
written materials at that time so they may help you in your
activities.
Dates: Sunday, August 6th through Saturday, August 12th.
Don't forget that all your activities must have their written
descriptions in text files. If you have any images they must be
put into pict, jpeg or gif formats for conversion. They will be
put into the CARA WWW site as the week proceeds. This should solve
the "publishing" problem we've had trouble with in the past. Luisa
Rebull (assisted by Evan Harper) will be the webmaster.
Workshop Titles and Teaching Teams
The leader of each activity or workshop is listed. You will have the
assistance of the leadership students who are in each team. Note that
your plan must include a rain/cloud activity. You are also responsible
for turning in a text file version of the activity during the
Institute. We will take pictures during the institute.)
Daytime workshops
- Solar Energy
- Instructor: Brass
Will learn how the sun derives its energy, and delve into
stellar interiors.
- Solar Rotation
- Instructor: Dreiser
Will learn about sunspots and determine the rotation rate of
the Sun by creating a physical model to understand projection effects.
- Solar Constant
- Instructor: Duncan
In this lab we'll measure the energy content of sunlight by
determining how much it raises the temperature of a cup
of water.
- Telescopes
- Instructor: Kron
Build a telescope and quantify its properties (magnification
and field of view); observe the phenomenon of "seeing" and
consider ways to mitigate it.
- Tower Construction
- Instructor: Rottman
An introduction to the physics of structures, with some
practical investigations of bridges and towers.
- Light Waves
- Instructor: Sweitzer
Will do some quantitative work with STAR spectroscopes
and also do some radio transmitter hunting.
- Only the Sun Shadow Knows
- Instructor: Whitt
Using paper, pencil and fax machine, students will record
the shadow of a film canister and compare it with other
drawings made at the same time and date, but from
different locations. They'll also use plastic hemispheres to plot
the path of the sun across the sky.
Nighttime Workshops
- Sky angles and Sextants
- Instructor: Brass, Sweitzer
Learn about sextants and measure angles in the sky to
determine the rotation rate of the Earth and revolution rate
of the Moon. (Will use Adler's instruments.)
- Photometry
- Instructor: Duncan, Harper
In this activity we'll learn about how our eyes respond to
light of different brightness. We'll then make comparisons
of the brightnesses of different stars, to determine how much
energy we receive from them.
- Jupiter's Moons
- Instructor: Kron, Dreiser
A small model of the Jovian system will be made, moon
positions figured and then compared with real thing.
- Moon Watchers
- Instructor: Whitt
Maps, binoculars (?), and MAS scopes used to study lunar
features.
Actual labs from this might be found on our
Resources page.
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Last modified Friday, 08-Jan-1999 15:37:50 CST
http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/outreach/se/ysi/95sked.html