• The only information we get from space is light because we can’t leave the earth to directly interact with stuff in space
• Light gives us SO much more information that we consciously think about

• What am I trying to figure out?
• The information we can get by looking at light
• The makeup of stars based on the light they release

Procedure

• Compare the light spectrum of known elements to the light in stars
• If the absorption lines on the star are the same as the lines on the element, than that star contains that element.

There is a science behind why certain colors “feel” right together or “compliment” each other.

There is a science behind why certain colors “feel” right together or “compliment” each other. https://www.behavioraldesign.academy/color-psychology/color-theory

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Guiding question:

What does light tell us about stars?

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If you had to make your own experiment to answer the guiding question above, what would you do? Explain each step you would take in your experiment, but you do not have to do the research or collect any data. You cannot use the experiment in this lab report.

On your own

With your group

Let’s Read Together

What is Light? By Las Cumbres University

https://lco.global/spacebook/light/what-is-light/

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What are the different types of light and how are they defined?

Answer in a one paragraph CERCA argument

** Remember to have EVIDENCE from the text

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With your class

On your own

What is a hypothesis?

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Make a hypothesis on what elements are in the star based on its light?

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With your class

On your own

Be ready to share your ideas with the class.

Let’s Read Together

Parts of a reliable scientific experiment include:

Required Tools - the type of tools you need including what it measures

Control Variable - thing that is the same

Independent Variable - thing scientists does

Dependent Variable - thing measured at the end of the experiment (Tip: I usually like to find this one first)

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Scientists gather the light from stars using a telescope. To ensure reliable readings, they use the light spectra of known elements. They analyze the star’s absorption spectral lines to figure out the elements that are in that star.

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Fill out the parts of the experiment in the table on your lab report

With your class

On your own

One atomic mass

Hydrogen is the name we give to one atomic mass (a proton)

Helium has 4 atomic masses

How many hydrogens do you need to make a helium?

One atomic mass

Helium has a mass of 4

Data: Fill out the required data from the lab measurements.

Use the star absorption spectra and the element star spectra to determine whether the element is in the given star. For example, the sun would have the element “hydrogen” in it because all the lines that represent hydrogen are in the light from the sun.

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** Note: All lines in the element MUST be in the star but NOT all the lines in the star will be in the element. The star will have more lines because of other elements.

Copy and Paste the spectrum you want to compare into this slide

Bar graph of the amount of stars that had each element. Example: A bar with the amount of stars that had hydrogen in them

Analysis: Answer the following questions about the lab.

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Conclusion: Fill out the sentences below to reflect on the hypothesis and data of the lab.

(It is ok if the original hypothesis and conclusion are the same word if you had the correct hypothesis)

Fill out reflection questions and your final conclusion.

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REMEMBER: DO NOT change your original hypothesis, just copy it down.