LIGHT IN THE SKY By Miss Guibert

What are the light bulbs of our universe?

STARS!!!!

All light comes from stars.

What are stars? Stars are mostly hydrogen that is reacting and making energy What are other things that look like they make light?

In the nebula, Hydrogen nuclei are squeezed together to make….

Hydrogen & Helium are the nebula gases. Picture of periodic table of elements

NUCLEAR FUSION: H + H He (and sunlight)

Stars combine Hydrogen atoms to produce Helium in a process called… FUSION! Click the word above to watch the video clip

Let’s take a look at plasmas and light The tesla coil works by increasing the volts (ability to push and pull electrons) What color is neon? What color is hydrogen? What color is xenon? What color is helium? What color is nitrogen (light bulb)? What gases do you think are in the plasma ball?

Why do the light bulbs light up when touched by the tesla coil? The tesla coil transforms the gas into plasma! Plasma is the 4th state of matter when electrons are VERY excited (ionized). After the big bang, only plasma existed. Let’s watch this clip and see if you can correctly answer the question Let’s watch this clip for the correct answer.

What are some applications of plasmas here on Earth? (pictures) High efficiency lighting High density microcircuits Coating for medical implants and recording media Plasma electronics (tvs) Superconducting magnetic research Learning about space science

Let’s review the life cycle of a star What are nebulas and what are they made of? http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/starlife_sequence.html

Astronomers use an H-R diagram to organize and show patterns of stars, similar to how chemists use the periodic table. Learn more here: http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/hr_diagram.html And here: http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/hr_interactive.html

How do we know only stars make light? So… How do we know only stars make light?

Only stars have a chemical reaction making energy. 2. We can see shadows on other objects. 3. Rocks and Ice don’t make light. Nuclear fusion

Where is the light coming from? THE SUN

What is blocking the light? THE EARTH

What is being covered by shadow? THE MOON

LUNAR ECLIPSE: “moon is covered”

Where is the light coming from? THE SUN

What is blocking the sun? THE MOON

SOLAR ECLIPSE: “sun is covered”

Which is the solar and lunar eclipse? Solar eclipse Lunar eclipse

Let’s model both eclipses!

Now complete the handout