Balloon/Rocket Balloon/Rocket MissionMission

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

►Reinforce knowledge of the EM Reinforce knowledge of the EM spectrum and solar particles in the spectrum and solar particles in the solar wind and CMEssolar wind and CMEs

►Learn about the magnetosphere and Learn about the magnetosphere and atmosphere as protective shieldsatmosphere as protective shields

► Identify EM energies and particles that Identify EM energies and particles that are blocked by these shields, which are blocked by these shields, which are not and which are harmfulare not and which are harmful

More learning objectives…More learning objectives…

► Investigate how to protect ourselves Investigate how to protect ourselves from UVfrom UV

►Gain some understanding of the Gain some understanding of the history of solar sciencehistory of solar science

►Appreciate effects of solar activity on Appreciate effects of solar activity on various activities and peoplevarious activities and people

►Be able to articulate the importance of Be able to articulate the importance of solar science solar science

Introducing the MissionIntroducing the Mission

►We need protection from the Sun’s We need protection from the Sun’s solar storms and even when the Sun is solar storms and even when the Sun is “quiet”.“quiet”.

►Which of the solar energies can be Which of the solar energies can be harmful to living things on Earth?harmful to living things on Earth?

►Fast moving solar particles that Fast moving solar particles that sometimes occur with CMEs can also be sometimes occur with CMEs can also be damaging to living things that are not damaging to living things that are not shielded. shielded.

►The Earth has two shields that block The Earth has two shields that block some of the Sun’s harmful energiessome of the Sun’s harmful energies AtmosphereAtmosphere – layer of mixed gasses – layer of mixed gasses

(primarily nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor (primarily nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and ozone) surrounding the planet.and ozone) surrounding the planet.

MagnetosphereMagnetosphere – a magnetic field that – a magnetic field that extends much farther away from the Earth extends much farther away from the Earth than the atmosphere.than the atmosphere.

Levels of the AtmosphereLevels of the Atmosphere

TroposphereTroposphere: : ► Lowest atmospheric layer Lowest atmospheric layer ► Seven miles thick Seven miles thick ► Most clouds and weather are found hereMost clouds and weather are found here► Temp decreases with altitudeTemp decreases with altitude

StratosphereStratosphere: : ► Found about 7 to 30 miles above the Earth’s Found about 7 to 30 miles above the Earth’s

surfacesurface► Ozone layer found here (absorbs most UV)Ozone layer found here (absorbs most UV)► Temp around 32 FahrenheitTemp around 32 Fahrenheit

Levels of the AtmosphereLevels of the AtmosphereMesosphereMesosphere: : ► Above the stratosphereAbove the stratosphere► atmosphere is thinatmosphere is thin► Temp decreases with altitude, about –130 Temp decreases with altitude, about –130

FahrenheitFahrenheit

ThermosphereThermosphere: : ► Starts at about 55 kilometers Starts at about 55 kilometers ► Temperature is quite hot; thousands of degreesTemperature is quite hot; thousands of degrees► Temperature is measured by motion and speed Temperature is measured by motion and speed

of certain gases, not using a thermometerof certain gases, not using a thermometer

Levels of the AtmosphereLevels of the Atmosphere

ExosphereExosphere: : ►Region beyond the thermosphere.Region beyond the thermosphere.

IonosphereIonosphere: : ►Overlaps the other atmospheric layers, Overlaps the other atmospheric layers,

from above the Earth from above the Earth ►Air is ionized by the Sun’s ultraviolet Air is ionized by the Sun’s ultraviolet

lightlight

Today you willToday you will

►Conduct a simulated scientific mission Conduct a simulated scientific mission to learn which solar energies and to learn which solar energies and particles are blocked by the shields and particles are blocked by the shields and at what altitude they are blocked.at what altitude they are blocked.

►Advise the following people of your Advise the following people of your findingsfindings A student in a schoolyardA student in a schoolyard A snowboarder on Mount EverestA snowboarder on Mount Everest A high altitude skydiverA high altitude skydiver A Space Shuttle astronaut on a spacewalkA Space Shuttle astronaut on a spacewalk

►Graph data from an electronic sensor Graph data from an electronic sensor sent up in a balloonsent up in a balloon

►Can a balloon continue to rise beyond Can a balloon continue to rise beyond the atmosphere?”the atmosphere?”

You will work in pairs You will work in pairs today.today.

Everyone will need a Everyone will need a

Graph A and a Graph BGraph A and a Graph B

GoalsGoals

► Imagine the Sun’s energy coming Imagine the Sun’s energy coming toward Earth from above the top of the toward Earth from above the top of the graph. When your graph is finished, it graph. When your graph is finished, it will show whether energy from the Sun will show whether energy from the Sun reaches the Earth’s surface, and if not, reaches the Earth’s surface, and if not, at what altitude each is blocked.at what altitude each is blocked.

Initial QuestionsInitial Questions

►What is the highest altitude on the graph?What is the highest altitude on the graph?►At what altitude is the student in the At what altitude is the student in the

schoolyard?schoolyard?►How high is the flight path of a typical airliner?How high is the flight path of a typical airliner?►How high is the planned high-altitude skydive?How high is the planned high-altitude skydive?►At what altitude will the rocket launch from the At what altitude will the rocket launch from the

balloon?balloon?►How high does the Space Shuttle go on its How high does the Space Shuttle go on its

orbit?orbit?

The Mission!The Mission!

Interpreting the Data: Sheet Interpreting the Data: Sheet AA

►Connect the dots from zero to 200km Connect the dots from zero to 200km on each of the eight graphson each of the eight graphs

►What can we conclude from the data?What can we conclude from the data?

Interpreting the Data: Sheet Interpreting the Data: Sheet BB

►Conclusions about UV?Conclusions about UV?►What is the UV exposure for each of What is the UV exposure for each of

our clients?our clients?►UV can damage our cells.UV can damage our cells.►Conclusions about X-rays and gamma Conclusions about X-rays and gamma

rays.rays.

Getting More DataGetting More Data

► Interpretations of the extended graphInterpretations of the extended graph►Are Space Shuttle Astronauts Are Space Shuttle Astronauts

protected from solar particles?protected from solar particles?►What about a person on the moon?What about a person on the moon?►Are Space Shuttle astronauts Are Space Shuttle astronauts

protected from the electromagnetic protected from the electromagnetic energy of solar flares?energy of solar flares?

Continue Looking at GraphsContinue Looking at Graphs

►Create an appropriate graph for the dataCreate an appropriate graph for the data►Compare the energy level data between Compare the energy level data between

the Quiet Sun and Solar Flare – what the Quiet Sun and Solar Flare – what differences are the most striking? differences are the most striking?

►Why is solar science important to Why is solar science important to everyone on the planet?everyone on the planet?

►How well does UV protection really work?How well does UV protection really work?

HomeworkHomework

►History of Solar ScienceHistory of Solar Science Write a summary of the main ideas from Write a summary of the main ideas from

each website in your own wordseach website in your own words Note main ideas of each siteNote main ideas of each site Put the main ideas into your own wordsPut the main ideas into your own words Include important points that support the Include important points that support the

main ideasmain ideas Use quotesUse quotes Cite your sourcesCite your sources