Correlating sunspots to active regions

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In this lesson, students will explore the development of new technology has increased our knowledge of how the sun works. This activity is part of a three-part series of lessons aimed at showing students how our knowledge of the universe must be inferred through the use of scientific tools. Specifically, students study sunspots in these lessons through the use of solar imaging from satellite instruments currently circling the sun. This second lesson allows students to see how sophisticated technology can be used to learn about the sun. In this activity, students apply the use of two types of solar imaging to determine a correlation between sunspots and active regions on the sun. The sunspots are visualized through the use of visible light solar imaging whereas the active regions are visualized utilizing x-ray energy. Students compare the two images and determine the area of sunspots and active regions using a Java applet. The information gathered is used to determine the existence of a correlation between the two types of solar features. This lesson encourages whole group discussion, partner work, improvement of research skills, and development of higher level thinking processes. Science NetLinks provides links to necessary web resources, detailed directions for the teacher, as well as links to the next lesson in the series. The lesson also includes a link to the Yohkoh Public Outreach Project site and a web resource that provides data about the largest sunspots ever observed.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment