Astronomy and Physics Research

Astronomy and Physics Research

is a UC-approved "g" elective class in which students get training on research techniques related to astronomy and physics and pursue an independent study research project on their own.

For examples of past research projects, go to the Space Academy site (button at left) and click on Projects.

Current Research Topics

• Microvariability of blazars
• Observations of GLAST program objects with the Spitzer Space Telescope
• Gender bias in perceptions of science professionals
• Radio emissions of quasars/Jupiter/the sun
• Variable stars in the Andromeda Galaxy
• Light curve for eclipsing binary Algol

Curriculum

The Course Outline (that appears below) as a pdf file is located here.

The Research activity by standard matrix is here.

The standard by research activity matrix is here.

The UC a-g course classification proposal is here. Note that we asked for a "d" evaluation but were classified as a "g" course elective.

Course Outline

Astronomy and Physics Research is a year-long course which will guide students through a series of authentic research projects involving physics and astronomy. The research projects will either be part of a larger organized project sponsored by a University or science center, or they will be independent projects which address topics determined by the student, teacher and a mentor. The curriculum for the class will cover all of the California Science Content Standards for experimental design, plus topics in depth related to several collaborative projects such as the Lawrence Hall of Science’s Hands On Universe, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory’s Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Education, and others. These topics will include astronomy, mathematics, and physics content.

Course objectives:

• Students will learn how experiments are designed.
• Students will design their own experiments and analyze the experiments of others.
• Students will learn how astronomers and other scientists gather and reduce data.
• Students will collect, reduce, and report astronomical observations.
• Students will write testable hypotheses suitable for a high school science course or science fair.
• Students will learn advanced instrument techniques, recordkeeping, file mangement, data reduction,
• graphing techniques, and how to construct a scientific research paper.
• Students will conduct a scientific research project and present the results in a public setting, and publish the results in a setting beyond the classroom.
• Students will learn how to find best-fit curves, estimate error of measurements, how to reduce the error in measurements, and how to control interfering variables in experimental design.

Course assessment:

• Rubric-based written experimental design papers.
• Rubric-based scoring for each assignment.
• Teacher observation of presentation.Written reports evaluated by rubric and peer evaluation.
• Rubric based scoring. Frequent-- with each unit of study.
• Performance assessments, at least once per semester. Presentation of research results at end of calendar year. Traditional multiple-choice and open-response assessment in each unit of study.

Content Outline
1) Introduction to Experimental Design

a) Measurements in Physical Science and Astronomy

b) Random error vs. systematic error

c) Accuracy vs. Precision

d) Standard deviation and significance

e) Detailed analysis of significant figures

f) Interpolation and Extrapolation\

g) Small number statistics

2) Background research (Paper Analysis Activity)

a) Sources of information (“the literature”)
b) Use of internet research /reliability of sources
c) Interviewing researchers/seeking a mentor
d) Establishing a working hypothesis
e) Understanding independent and dependent variables
f) Causal relationships vs. correlations
g) Writing a hypotheses which can be answered
h) Reading and Writing research papers

i) Reading papers

(1) Analyzing the Structure
(2) Identifying the hypothesis
(3) Sources of data
(4) Sources of error
(5) Addressing the hypothesis in the conclusion

ii) Writing research papers - introduction

(1) Audience
(2) Peer Review
(3) Collaborative papers
(4) Seeking a valid hypothesis

3) Data collection

a) Organizing data
b) Multi-variable experiments
c) Tracking interfering variables
d) Data analysis (Centripetal Force lab)

i) Best fit lines
ii) Curve fitting/graph straightening
iii) Binning and histograms (Radiation lab)
iv) Interpolation/Extrapolation
v) Correlation coefficients

4) Tools and Techniques

a) Video analysis of motion

i) Basic kinematics (acceleration lab)
ii) Conservation of momentum (momentum lab)
iii) Analysis of motion within the Crab Nebula (pending)

b) Optoelectronic and piezoelectric sensors

i) Photogates- (Conservation of Energy and sinusoidal motion lab)
ii) Force and acceleration sensors – (rocket impulse analysis lab)

(1) Includes numerical integration introduction

c) Analysis of optical equipment

i) Determination of plate scale (plate scale lab)
ii) Determining the figure of a mirror
iii) Focal length, aperture, Dawe’s Limit, collimation (telescope design lab)
iv) Charge coupled devices (CCDs)

(1) Comparison to chemical film
(2) Demonstration of reciprocity failure
(3) Bloom
(4) Review “Introduction to image processing” from astro class
(5) Frequency response (‘Q’ vs. wavelength)
(6) Small number statistics revisited
(7) Construction of color images (“Pretty Pictures” activity)

v) Pre-fabricated Exercises in Experimental Procedure

a) HOU: Measuring Jupiter’s Moons lab

i) Content: Gravity, ratios, Kepler’s laws, curve fitting

b) TLRBSE: Spectroscopic Analysis lab

i) Content: Atomic structure, quantum mechanics, Doppler effect

c) Measuring the distance to the moon through parallax lab

i) Content: Geometry application, plate scale, coordinate transforms

d) TLRBSE: Distribution of novae in M31 as a function of radial distance lab

i) Purpose: Verification of published experimental results
ii) Content: Logarithims, brightness ratios, geometry, data reduction

6) Participation in Pre-Existing Experimental Research Projects
Students will participate in at least three of the following projects, and more as time permits.

a) HOU: Supernova Search
b) TLRBSE: Nova search
c) HOU: Asteroid search
d) TLRBSE: AGN Spectroscopy
e) Projects with amateur astronomers
f) Radio telescopy with RA 1420 project

i) Current research question: Does the angle between Jupiter, Earth and Io affect the strength of radio emissions from Jupiter?

7) Selection and Pursuit of a Research Project *

a) Project Selection...The student will:

i) Recognize own interests, strengths, and resources, and select a relevant, useful topic that solves a problem.
ii) Research topics in library, news articles, and magazines, and with professionals in the field.
iii) Evaluate another's research topic.
iv) Select a topic which can be completed within the constraints of the resources available.

b) Research Project Proposal...The student will:

i) State a purpose.
ii) Create an experimental procedure which is duplicatable, measurable, and controllable.
iii) Propose a hypothesis.
iv) List materials.
v) Assess strengths and relate constructive criticism of others.

c) Library and Internet Research...The student will:

i) Research, evaluate, organize, and synthesize library and internet information.
ii) Identify source, prepare questions, an interview or correspond with a professional in the field.
iii) Take notes on chosen topic and speech.
iv) Write an extensive research paper on the available literature on their chosen topic.
v) Write bibliography of paper.

d) Experimental Research Paper...The student will:

i) Synthesize purpose, review of literature, hypothesis materials, procedure, results, and conclusion.
ii) Write a formal paper on the completed project.
iii) Formally and orally present entire project.
iv) Publish the paper either in the TLRBSE research journal, the web site www.AstronomyTeacher.com, a public science fair, or other non-classroom venue as appropriate.

* Adapted from Liberty USHD Advanced Bio Research course posted at www.ucop.edu.

Great research web site:

http://adswww.harvard.edu/

Papers 2 years old and older can usually be downloaded in their entirety. Great for background references.

Tri Nguyen, Jerry Lancaster, and Robert Sullenger, 2003-2004's Astronomy and Physics Research class, took this picture of the central portion of the Orion Nebula in their first attempt at taking astrophotos using the school's telescope.

Handouts

New: A complete list of all handouts and dry-erase board notes captured electronically is posted at this page:

http://homepage.mac.com/astronomyteacher/FileSharing1.html

Mimio board notes--select the notes you want to see and click download. JPG files will be downloaded which you can open with any web browser or graphics program. Depending on the browser you are using they may or may not open automatically.

Documents--Please note: Most of these documents are in Adobe Acrobat format. They require the use of the (free) Adobe Acrobat reader. This is used instead of html because the document formatting remains identical to what the printed version looks like, no matter what your browser settings, and the format is universal to all computer platforms (Windows, DOS, Unix,Sun, and Mac). Requires Adobe Acrobat 3 or higher. IF YOU HAVE ACROBAT READER 5.0, YOU SHOULD DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THE LATEST UPDATE WHICH CORRECTS PROBLEMS WITH OS X AND WINDOWS XP.

A properly installed, recent copy of Adobe Acrobat reader should install a plug-in within your browser application and these links should work automatically. If you've installed the reader and when you click on the link, you still get a screen of random symbols, right-click (windows) or click and hold (Mac) until the pop-up menu appears and choose "Save link As..." from the list that appears. Choose Save Link as Source, and name the file something that ends in .pdf if it doesn't happen automatically. Then start Acrobat reader, and choose Open from the File menu. You should then be able to open the file.

 

Calendar

Lesson Plans

Web logs: News

Master Index

Astronomy and Space Science
Astronomy and Earth Science
AP Physics
CP Physics
Astronomy and Physics Research
Planetarium Production
ESPACE Academy
Spitzer AGN Research

California Science Standards

Click here to see the standards for all grades and subjects

 

 

Lesson Plan Calendar- Check upcoming lessons and past homework assignments here

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