Exoplanet-Themed Resources

Pre-Service Teacher Ed & Intro Astronomy

Lab: Star Spectra Science
Download Tutorial:    Word*       PDF*       Pre-Lecture
*Note: This activity was not formally developed through the NASA SSEC grant, but is highly relevant to the following activities. Get the lessons in Word and PDF form directly from the Digi Kit below.

Students use colored buttons and balloons to analyze star color, black body radiation curves, and luminosity of astronomical objects.
Curious to learn more about how concepts associated with stellar spectra can be integrated into physics? Check out the curated multimedia Digi Kit that is built around this lab by clicking below:
Star Spectra Science.

Lecture Tutorial: Determining the Atmospheric Composition of Exoplanets
Download as:    Word       PDF      Pre-Lecture

Students use spectral patterns of exoplanets' atmospheres to acquire information about atmospheric composition, as well as what other variables scientists consider when lookiing for planets that might support life.
Curious to learn more about how concepts associated with atmospheric composition of expplanets can be integrated into physics? Check out the curated multimedia Digi Kit that is built around this lab by clicking below:
Exoplanet Atmospheres Science.

Lecture Tutorial: Habitable Zone Planets
Download Tutorial:    Word       PDF       Pre-Lecture

Students use this worksheet to determine the various factors that influence the (average) surface temperature of a planet using principles of blackbody radiation, equilibrium, albedo, and greenhouse gases.   
 

Lab: Modeling Planetary Magnetism
Download as:    Word       PDF      Pre-Lecture

Students use the capability of augmented reality on their smartphones to model 3-D magnetic fields around models of Earth and Planet X.
Curious to learn more about how concepts associated with planetary magnetism can be integrated into physics? Check out the curated multimedia Digi Kit that is built around this lab by clicking below:
Planetary Magnetism Science.