1.03 Light & Gravity

Last updated about 2 hours ago

19 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

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HS-ESS1-2

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HS-ESS1-2

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HS-ESS1-2

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Library

1.03 Light & Gravity

Last updated about 2 hours ago

19 questions

Note from the author:

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

Instructions

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

Required

0

Required

1

Required

1

Answer one or more of these questions about the Scale of the Universe interactive:
What did you find interesting?
Did anything surprise you?
What does this tell you about the size of the universe?

To understand how scientists determine astronomical distances, we first need to discuss light and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Wavelength and frequency are two important characteristics of light. 

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks or two consecutive troughs of a wave.

Required

1

Use the ruler provided to determine the wavelength of each wave:
 
_______ units

_______ units

_______ units

HS-ESS1-2

Frequency refers to the number of wavelengths that pass a given point in one second. 

High frequency has many wavelengths each second.

The closer together the wavelengths are, the higher the frequency.

Low frequency has fewer wavelengths each second.

The further apart the wavelengths are, the lower the frequency.

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1

HS-ESS1-2

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2

These properties are inversely related which means as wavelength increases, frequency decreases, and vice versa.

To summarize:
Waves with a short wavelength have a __________ frequency
Waves with a long wavelength have a __________ frequency

HS-ESS1-2

So far we have only looked at visible light, the light our eyes are able to detect.  There are more types of light that our eyes can't detect that we can use to study the universe.

Question 7

01:02

Question 8

01:06

Question 9

01:40

Question 10

02:18

Question 11

04:20

Question 12

04:47

Watch how images of outer space are created using data from x-ray, radio, and visible light waves.

Later in the semester, you'll have an opportunity to create your own image from satellite data.

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0

What IS gravity?

You probably know what gravity does, but why does gravity exist?

No right or wrong answers as long as they are your own! :)

Newton viewed gravity as a force acting on objects in a 3 dimensional universe (length, width, and depth).

Einstein proposed the idea of spacetime, or a 4 dimensional universe (length, width, depth, and time).  Massive objects bend spacetime, and gravity it the result of the curvature of spacetime.

Think of spacetime like stretchy fabric and gravity is the result of placing massive objects on it.  The demos below will help you visualize this.

Question 14

00:23

Question 15

00:35

Question 16

00:51

Question 17

01:11

Question 18

01:57

Question 19

02:21

Bonus: Play with gravity in this simulator https://lab.nationalmedals.org/gravity.php

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

Before we jump into Unit 1, please rate yourself on the Unit 1 objectives from 1 (just starting) to 5 (mastered it!)

You may need to scroll horizontally to see all options

	1 - getting started	2	3	4	5 - mastered it
Describe the study of the cosmos
Discuss the theory of the origin of the universe
Analyze the evidence that supports the Big Bang theory
Examine the composition of matter and how it is distributed within the universe
Describe the theories of evolution and fate of the universe

Using the interactive above to help you (or opening it in a new window) order the following from smallest (1) to largest (6)

Milky Way Galaxy
The Sun
Earth
Moon
The Universe
The Solar System

Answer one or more of these questions about the Scale of the Universe interactive:
What did you find interesting?
Did anything surprise you?
What does this tell you about the size of the universe?

To understand how scientists determine astronomical distances, we first need to discuss light and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Wavelength and frequency are two important characteristics of light. 

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks or two consecutive troughs of a wave.

Use the ruler provided to determine the wavelength of each wave:
 
_______ units

_______ units

_______ units

Frequency refers to the number of wavelengths that pass a given point in one second. 

High frequency has many wavelengths each second.

The closer together the wavelengths are, the higher the frequency.

Low frequency has fewer wavelengths each second.

The further apart the wavelengths are, the lower the frequency.

Put these waves in order from lowest (longest wavelength) to highest frequency (shortest wavelength).

These properties are inversely related which means as wavelength increases, frequency decreases, and vice versa.

To summarize:
Waves with a short wavelength have a __________ frequency
Waves with a long wavelength have a __________ frequency

So far we have only looked at visible light, the light our eyes are able to detect.  There are more types of light that our eyes can't detect that we can use to study the universe.

Watch how images of outer space are created using data from x-ray, radio, and visible light waves.

Later in the semester, you'll have an opportunity to create your own image from satellite data.

What IS gravity?

You probably know what gravity does, but why does gravity exist?

No right or wrong answers as long as they are your own! :)

Newton viewed gravity as a force acting on objects in a 3 dimensional universe (length, width, and depth).

Einstein proposed the idea of spacetime, or a 4 dimensional universe (length, width, depth, and time).  Massive objects bend spacetime, and gravity it the result of the curvature of spacetime.

Think of spacetime like stretchy fabric and gravity is the result of placing massive objects on it.  The demos below will help you visualize this.

Question 14

00:23

Question 15

00:35

Question 16

00:51

Question 17

01:11

Question 18

01:57

Question 19

02:21

Bonus: Play with gravity in this simulator https://lab.nationalmedals.org/gravity.php

Before we jump into Unit 1, please rate yourself on the Unit 1 objectives from 1 (just starting) to 5 (mastered it!) 

You may need to scroll horizontally to see all options

1 - getting started

2

3

4

5 - mastered it

Describe the study of the cosmos

Discuss the theory of the origin of the universe

Analyze the evidence that supports the Big Bang theory

Examine the composition of matter and how it is distributed within the universe

Describe the theories of evolution and fate of the universe

Using the interactive above to help you (or opening it in a new window) order the following from smallest (1) to largest (6)

Milky Way Galaxy

The Sun

Earth

Moon

The Universe

The Solar System

Put these waves in order from lowest (longest wavelength) to highest frequency (shortest wavelength).

What is the size of a wave?

frequency

amplitude

wavelength

How often a wave goes by is called its...

wavelength

amplitude

frequency

Long wavelengths have __________ energy and short wavelengths have __________ energy

What do we call the range of light we are able to see with our eyes?

visible

observable

obvious

Our universe only gives off visible light.

True

False

To see the universe in its full spectrum, we need to use special telescopes that can help us see beyond visible light.

True

False

In this demonstration, the fabric represents spacetime and the marble represents an object.

How do objects move through space?

Randomly

In curved lines

In straight lines

How did the larger purple mass affect spacetime (the fabric)?

Spacetime remained the same

The shape of spacetime was changed

Why did the two masses move towards each other?

Because they are attracted by magnetic force

Because the spandex pushes them together randomly

Because spacetime curves downward under them, causing them to roll toward each other

How did the purple mass affect the movement of the smaller white mass (ping pong ball)?

The ping pong ball's path was affected by the purple ball's curvature of spacetime

The ping pong ball still traveled in a straight line

What can happen when a smaller mass gets close to a larger mass?

The two masses don't affect each other

The smaller mass will begin to orbit the larger mass

The larger mass will be pulled in to the smaller mass

Why did the "Earth" and the "Moon" end up crashing into the "Sun" in this demo?

Friction between the spandex and the masses slowed down the "Earth" and "Moon" so they couldn't maintain their orbit

Because that's what going to happen and we're all going to die!!!

What is the size of a wave?

frequency

amplitude

wavelength

How often a wave goes by is called its...

wavelength

amplitude

frequency

What do we call the range of light we are able to see with our eyes?

visible

observable

obvious

Our universe only gives off visible light.

True

False

To see the universe in its full spectrum, we need to use special telescopes that can help us see beyond visible light.

True

False

In this demonstration, the fabric represents spacetime and the marble represents an object.

How do objects move through space?

Randomly

In curved lines

In straight lines

How did the larger purple mass affect spacetime (the fabric)?

Spacetime remained the same

The shape of spacetime was changed

Why did the two masses move towards each other?

Because they are attracted by magnetic force

Because the spandex pushes them together randomly

Because spacetime curves downward under them, causing them to roll toward each other

How did the purple mass affect the movement of the smaller white mass (ping pong ball)?

The ping pong ball's path was affected by the purple ball's curvature of spacetime

The ping pong ball still traveled in a straight line

What can happen when a smaller mass gets close to a larger mass?

The two masses don't affect each other

The smaller mass will begin to orbit the larger mass

The larger mass will be pulled in to the smaller mass

Why did the "Earth" and the "Moon" end up crashing into the "Sun" in this demo?

Friction between the spandex and the masses slowed down the "Earth" and "Moon" so they couldn't maintain their orbit

Because that's what going to happen and we're all going to die!!!

1.03 Light & Gravity

1.03 Light & Gravity

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

Answer one or more of these questions about the Scale of the Universe interactive:What did you find interesting? Did anything surprise you?What does this tell you about the size of the universe?

What IS gravity?You probably know what gravity does, but why does gravity exist?No right or wrong answers as long as they are your own! :)

Bonus: Play with gravity in this simulator https://lab.nationalmedals.org/gravity.php

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

If you need help on this assignment, please watch the class recording (updated 9.16.25)

Before we jump into Unit 1, please rate yourself on the Unit 1 objectives from 1 (just starting) to 5 (mastered it!) You may need to scroll horizontally to see all options

Using the interactive above to help you (or opening it in a new window) order the following from smallest (1) to largest (6)

Answer one or more of these questions about the Scale of the Universe interactive:What did you find interesting? Did anything surprise you?What does this tell you about the size of the universe?

Put these waves in order from lowest (longest wavelength) to highest frequency (shortest wavelength).

What IS gravity?You probably know what gravity does, but why does gravity exist?No right or wrong answers as long as they are your own! :)

Bonus: Play with gravity in this simulator https://lab.nationalmedals.org/gravity.php

What is the size of a wave?

How often a wave goes by is called its...

What do we call the range of light we are able to see with our eyes?

Our universe only gives off visible light.

To see the universe in its full spectrum, we need to use special telescopes that can help us see beyond visible light.

In this demonstration, the fabric represents spacetime and the marble represents an object.How do objects move through space?

How did the larger purple mass affect spacetime (the fabric)?

Why did the two masses move towards each other?

How did the purple mass affect the movement of the smaller white mass (ping pong ball)?

What can happen when a smaller mass gets close to a larger mass?

Why did the "Earth" and the "Moon" end up crashing into the "Sun" in this demo?

Answer one or more of these questions about the Scale of the Universe interactive:
What did you find interesting?
Did anything surprise you?
What does this tell you about the size of the universe?

What IS gravity?

You probably know what gravity does, but why does gravity exist?

No right or wrong answers as long as they are your own! :)

Before we jump into Unit 1, please rate yourself on the Unit 1 objectives from 1 (just starting) to 5 (mastered it!)

You may need to scroll horizontally to see all options

Answer one or more of these questions about the Scale of the Universe interactive:
What did you find interesting?
Did anything surprise you?
What does this tell you about the size of the universe?

What IS gravity?

You probably know what gravity does, but why does gravity exist?

No right or wrong answers as long as they are your own! :)

In this demonstration, the fabric represents spacetime and the marble represents an object.

How do objects move through space?