NASA s Pi in the Sky Astronomy Concepts in your Math Classroom

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Astronomy Concepts in your Math Classroom

NASA E/PO

• Sonoma State University• Learn about high-energy

astrophysics missions• Develop and disseminate

educational materials to the public

Explore the era of star formation in the universe, the physics of dark matter and the creation and evolution of galaxies

Fermi (GLAST) Science

TOPS Pi in the Sky

• 37 activities• Designed to be used

over several years

How big is the Moon?

Earth-Moon-Mars Ratios

So What’s a Radian?

1. Balance Paper Plate on a Pin2. Draw the Radius on the Plate3. Use the index card to measure the radius4. Transfer this measurement to the pie plate5. Cut out the piece of pie formed by the radius

You should have 6 wedges plus a little bit more

How much is that little bit more?

Coin Rulers

Tape and Fold your Coin Rulers

- Can you make 1 penny appear 1/2 as tall as another penny?

- Can you make a penny and a nickel look the same size?

- What is the relationship between the apparent size of a coin and its position along the coin ruler?

The Connection • When an angle is small, the angle

(measured in radians) is nearly the same as the ratio of the size of the object to the object’s distance.

• For example, the Moon is 110 Moon-lengths away, so when we look at the Moon from Earth, it makes an angle of 1/110 of a radian from our eye.

Final Story • Satellites, like Fermi, use this as a way to

calculate the sizes of distant objects in space.• If an object is many miles away and looks like

a candle burning, it could be an entire city on fire.

• Well, if an object is billions of miles (or even light years) away and looks like a candle burning, it might be a supernova or an even bigger explosion called a gamma ray burst!

The Sun and the Moon

Cut, tape and fold the Moon ruler.

- How far away from the paper plate do you need to stand in order for it to appear to be the same size as the Moon?

- How big does the Sun appear?- Explain a solar eclipse.

Janet Moore

JanetMoore@gmail.com

epo.sonoma.edu

To download this presentation and a pdf of the booklet, visit:

www.NASAJanet.com

THANK YOU!