Why study physics?How does the universe

work?

Chatfield Senior High

Physics (Mr. Boyle) PPT 1-1

Why Study Physics? (adapted from AAPT) 1. Colleges like you taking challenging

classes. 2. Physics can answer questions about the

world no other discipline can. 3.High school Physics provides scaffolding for

college level work. 4. Physics is the basis for all technological

advances.

“How large is the universe?” writing assignment

Go outside after sunset (or before sunrise!) and lie on the ground. Ponder the size of the universe and your place in it.

After you are finished, write a paragraph that

(1) Describes your observations

(2) Offers your attempt at answering how large the universe is your place in it

Goals

(1) To appreciate how to think like a physicist

(2) To review concepts of astronomy

(3) To provide a framework for studying physics concepts

The “ancients” (Constellation Names)

The Sky Tonight

Observed Motions

(1) Length of day and direction the sun appears to be above the horizon

(2) Phases of the moon

(3) Motion of the planets with respect to the stars

(4) Comets and eclipses

The ancients (Stonehenge)

The ancients (Stonehenge)

Mesa Verde (Anasazi Indians)

Machu Picchu (Mayans)

The Hitching Post of the Sun

Eclipse (Lunar)

Eclipses (Solar)

Comet (Hale-Bopp)(1997)

Phases of the Moon

Moon Landing (1969)

Observed Motion of Mars

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Voyager I & II (1979)

Jupiter (1979)

Saturn (1980)

Saturn (1980)

Uranus (1986)

Neptune (1989)

Pluto- Charon (The proto-planet)

“How large is the universe?” writing assignment

Go outside after sunset (or before sunrise!) and lie on the ground. Ponder the size of the universe and your place in it.

After you are finished, write a paragraph that

(1) Describes your observations

(2) Offers your attempt at answering how large the universe is your place in it

If the Sun is the size of a recreational ball

21 cm diameter compared to 1.39 X 1011 m

Planets Would Be…

Mercury 8.75 m from the Sun Venus 16.3 m from the Sun Earth 22.5 m from the Sun Mars 34.5 m from the Sun Jupiter 118 m from the Sun Saturn 216 m from the Sun Uranus 433 m from the Sun Neptune 679 m from the Sun Pluto892 m from the Sun

Nearest Star Would Be…

Alpha-Centauri is 4 light years away.

In this model it would be in Honolulu!

5727 km or 3579 mi.

Milky Way Galaxy

It is 100000 light-years across and 1000 light-years thick