Exoplanets

Orrery

Goals

A

Construct a model solar system, called an orrery.

A

Construct a model solar system, called an orrery.

Materials

  • Tablet
  • LEGO® Technic set
  • Sam Labs circuit pieces
  • PASCO light sensor 
  • Exoplanet activity mat 
  • Tablet
  • LEGO® Technic set
  • Sam Labs circuit pieces
  • PASCO light sensor
  • Exoplanet activity mat

Mission Briefing

  1. Using the LEGO® technic pieces, follow the directions here to build your model solar system. Try manually cranking the orrery with your fingers. What do you observe?
    • You may need to slightly modify these instructions to stabilize your orrery or align the gears with the motor.
  2. Next, check out the SAM Labs circuit pieces. Press the power button on the side of each piece to turn them on . Open the SAM Space app and follow the prompts to connect the pieces. 
  3. Take some time to become comfortable with the pieces. What combinations of planet size, arm length, star brightness, and orbital speed can you make?
  4. Place the LED under the star and connect the motor to the axle using the coupler. Power the star with the button and the motor with the slider. Create your program in the app and test it out!

  1. Using the LEGO® technic pieces, follow the directions here to build your model solar system. Try manually cranking the orrery with your fingers. What do you observe?
    • You may need to slightly modify these instructions to stabilize your orrery or align the gears with the motor.
  2. Next, check out the SAM Labs circuit pieces. Press the power button on the side of each piece to turn them on . Open the SAM Space app and follow the prompts to connect the pieces.
  3. Take some time to become comfortable with the pieces. What combinations of planet size, arm length, star brightness, and orbital speed can you make?
  4. Place the LED under the star and connect the motor to the axle using the coupler. Power the star with the button and the motor with the slider. Create your program in the app and test it out!

Planet Transits

Goals

A

Simulate the transit method of planet detection by collecting light curve data.

A

Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Stars crew after you finish.
A

A

Simulate the transit method of planet detection by collecting light curve data.

A

Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Stars crew after you finish.

Materials

  • Tablet
  • LEGO® Technic set
  • Sam Labs circuit pieces
  • PASCO light sensor 
  • Exoplanet activity mat 
  • Tablet
  • LEGO® Technic set
  • Sam Labs circuit pieces
  • PASCO light sensor
  • Exoplanet activity mat

Mission Briefing

  1. Now you’ll need the PASCO light sensor. Attach the light sensor to the tripod, press the black power button, and open the SPARKvue app. 
  2. Open “sensor data” path, select the sensor button, and select only “Spotlight Sensor, White”. 
  3. Set sampling mode to “periodic” and change “common sample rate” to “spotlight sensor”. 
  4. Set the sampling rate to 20Hz.
  5. Place the tripod on the small square on the mat with the spotlight sensor pointed toward the orrery. Set the orrery on the large square and attach the medium-sized planet. 
  6. Power on the orrery and start a run of the spotlight sensor. Allow the planet to make a few orbits before you stop the run. What do you observe about the graph? 
    • Hint:  Start the orrery. Then, toggle to the home screen with the SAM Space app running in the background and open SPARKvue to collect your light curve data.
  7. Next, try the large planet and collect data as a new run in the app. Allow the planet to make several orbits before stopping the experiment. What comparisons can you make? What differences? Which planet makes a larger light curve, and why? 
  8. Last, make a third with the small planet and compare all three. How does changing the planet size affect the light curves? What do you think would happen if the orbits of the planets were faster or slower? 
  9. Try more combinations of planet size, arm lengths, star brightness, and orbital speed to see how all of these factors affect the light curves.
  1. Now you’ll need the PASCO light sensor. Attach the light sensor to the tripod, press the black power button, and open the SPARKvue app.
  2. Open “Sensor Data” path, select the sensor button, and select only “Spotlight Sensor, White”.
  3. Set sampling mode to “periodic” and change “common sample rate” to “spotlight sensor”.
  4. Set the sampling rate to 20Hz.
  5. Place the tripod on the small square on the mat with the spotlight sensor pointed toward the orrery. Set the orrery on the large square and attach the medium-sized planet.
  6. Power on the orrery and start a run of the spotlight sensor. Allow the planet to make a few orbits before you stop the run. What do you observe about the graph?
    • Hint:  Start the orrery. Then, toggle to the home screen with the SAM Space app running in the background and open SPARKvue to collect your light curve data.
  7. Next, try the large planet and collect data as a new run in the app. Allow the planet to make several orbits before stopping the experiment. What comparisons can you make? What differences? Which planet makes a larger light curve, and why?
  8. Last, make a third with the small planet and compare all three. How does changing the planet size affect the light curves? What do you think would happen if the orbits of the planets were faster or slower?
  9. Try more combinations of planet size, arm lengths, star brightness, and orbital speed to see how all of these factors affect the light curves.

 

Exploring Further

Planetary scientists like Heidi Hammel are using the data from telescopes to discover exoplanets. While most exoplanets are discovered through the transit method, there are several other methods that planetary scientists use. Learn how planetary scientists discover exoplanets! 

Now that you’ve explored some transit method data, NASA has sent over three (3) graphs of observational data of new exoplanets. They’re asking for your help to make conclusions about these systems. Use what you have learned about the transit method of exoplanet identification and relay your findings.

  • Make a hypothesis based on the planet data. Which do you believe is the largest? The smallest? Why? 
  • Which planet has the longest orbit? Which planet has the shortest orbit? Share your findings with someone: your family, friends or caregivers.  

Planetary scientists like Heidi Hammel are using the data from telescopes to discover exoplanets. While most exoplanets are discovered through the transit method, there are several other methods that planetary scientists use. Learn how planetary scientists discover exoplanets! 

Now that you’ve explored some transit method data, NASA has sent over three (3) graphs of observational data of new exoplanets. They’re asking for your help to make conclusions about these systems. Use what you have learned about the transit method of exoplanet identification and relay your findings.

  • Make a hypothesis based on the planet data. Which do you believe is the largest? The smallest? Why?
  • Which planet has the longest orbit? Which planet has the shortest orbit? Share your findings with someone: your family, friends or caregivers.

Congratulations! You have successfully helped Team Mission: Stars simulate the transit method of planet detection and collect light curve data. Thanks for your help!

THIS MATERIAL PRODUCED BY ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS BASED UPON WORK SUPPORTED BY NASA UNDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AWARD NUMBER NNX16AM34G.

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