HR Diagram Activity (30 points)
Brief Overview of Activity : Use an HR diagram to learn about the differences between the stars in our stellar neighborhood and the brightest stars in the sky.
Required Items: this HR diagram , red & black ink pens.
Procedure:
On the HR diagram, plot each star from the “Brightest Stars Group” in black ink and then plot each star from the “Nearest Stars Group” in red ink.
Data for both groups of stars can be found below.
Describe any differences between the two groups of stars – such as their location on the diagram, color, mass, and the types of stars in each group.
Which of the two groups of stars is most representative of the vast majority stars in the universe?
Data
Brightest Stars Group
Name
Spectral Type
Absolute Mag
Sirius
A1
1.45
Canopus
F0
-5.63
Rigel Kentaurus
G2
4.39
Arcturus
K2
-0.32
Vega
A0
0.61
Capella
G8
-0.52
Rigel
B8
-7.01
Procyon
F5
2.66
Betelgeuse
M2
-5.48
Achernar
B3
-2.71
Hadar
B1
-4.78
Altair
A7
2.22
Aldebaran
K5
-0.63
Acrux
B0.5
-4.18
Spica
B1
-3.44
Antares
M1
-5.12
Fomalhaut
A3
1.75
Pollux
K0
1.07
Deneb
A2
-6.90
Mimosa
B0.5
-3.90
Nearest Stars Group
Name
Spectral Type
Absolute Mag
Sun
G2
4.83
Proxima Centauri
M5.5
15.48
Alpha Centauri A
G2
4.38
Alpha Centauri B
K0
5.71
Barnard’s Star
M3.5
13.25
Wolf 359
M5.5
16.64
Lalande 21185
M2
10.44
Sirius A
A1
1.44
Sirius B
A2
11.34
Epsilon Eridani
K2
6.20
Lacaille 9352
M1
9.76
Ross 128
M4
13.53
61 Cygni A
K5
7.48
61 Cygni B
K7
8.31
Procyon A
F5
2.65
Procyon B
A0
12.98
Struve 2398
M3
11.17
Groombridge 34
M1.5
10.31
Epsilon Indi
K4
6.98
Tau Ceti
G8.5
5.68
Radioactive Dating Activity (due at Stage 2) (30 points)
Brief Overview of Activity : Radioactive decay is one of the sources of the heat that drive the Earth’s geologic activity. Radioactive decay also allows us to date rocks and determine the age of the Earth and other solar system bodies.
Required Items: 36 coins, a calculator, pencil & paper.
Procedure:
In this activity you will simulate the radioactive decay of 36 atoms of a rare isotope of uranium, U-235. Uranium-235 has a half-life of 700 million years. Gather 36 coins and arrange them in a 6 x 6 grid with all of the coins facing heads up.
Flip each coin into the air and then place it back in its original location on the grid. This represents the passage of 1 half-life (700 million years for this example). The coins that came up heads represent atoms that have not yet decayed; the coins that came up tails represent atoms that have decayed. Record the number of heads below.
Next flip each one of the remaining heads-up coins once and place it back in its original location. 1.4 billion years have now passed by (2 x 700 million). Record the number of remaining heads below. Repeat this process until all coins are tails up.
_______ Original number of U-235 atoms
_______ Remaining number of U-235 atoms after 1st flip
_______ Remaining number of U-235 atoms a f ter 2nd flip
Add additional lines as needed.
Questions:
How many half-lives did it take for all of the atoms to decay?
How many years does that equate to?
Do you think everyone in class will get the same answer? Why?
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