6.H-R Diagram
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GRADE LEVEL: 

7 -12

OVERVIEW: 

Students will learn that there is a relationship between color, magnitude, and temperature of stars by constructing a graph using information about various stars.

PURPOSE: 

By constructing the H-R Diagram the students will discover that most stars lie along a smooth diagonal curve called main sequence with hot, luminous stars in the upper left and cool, dim stars in the lower right. By completing the activity and class discussion the students will also get a better understanding where our star (the sun) falls in relation to various stars in our universe.

OBJECTIVE: 

Students will:

  1. Construct a graph to see if there is any relationship between color, magnitude, and temperature of stars by constructing part of the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.
  2. Using an image from the Highland Road Park Observatory select at least one star at one of the stages on the chart and present to the class.

CURRICULUM STANDARDS: 

SI-M-A3, ESS-M-C1, ESS-M-C2

SI-H-B1, ESS-H-C1, ESS-H-D7

MATERIALS: 

Student worksheet, Hertzsprung-Russell star chart, Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram graph sheet, red, orange, yellow, white, blue, red-orange colored pencils or crayons, and Starry Night Pro.

PROCEDURE:

  1. Teachers see Students Activity Worksheet for background information.
  2. Instruct the students to read the complete worksheet.
  3. Once the groups get started, allow one group at a time to use the program Starry Night Pro to select a star to present. Teachers should have instructed the students on the use of Starry Night Pro. Number 10 on the student worksheet gives directions.
  4. Direct the students to complete the activity and answer the multiple-choice questions on the worksheet.
  5. In complete sentences have the students declare their deductions about the completed diagram in a short essay.

EVALUATION:

  1. Activity worksheet
  2. H-R Diagram
  3. Explanation of chart

Internet Resources:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/star4.htm 
Covers how stars work to the birth and death of stars. The Basics of the HR Diagram explains the diagram thoroughly and includes examples of temperature and luminosity and mass and luminosity. The Conclusion here is a good way to end the lesson.

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ 
Windows to the Universe provides users loads of information and graphics about the Earth and Space Sciences. This includes not only scientific content, but also information about the artistic, historical, and cultural connections between science and our lives.

http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/97/35/pr.html 
Hubble Space Telescope News covers Blue Stars

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/cgi-bin/tour.cgi?link=/the_universe/WD.html&d=&frp=/windows3.html&fr=f&sw=false&edu=mid&art=ok&cdp=/windows3.html&cd=false&back=/search/search_navigation.html
Windows to the Universe information on White Dwarf stars.

http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/95/32.html 
Hubble Telescope Image of White Dwarf Stars