Download Name: Hour:______ Directions for website use: This web activity is

Name: _________________
Hour:_______
Directions for website use:
This web activity is designed to help students understand the nature of light. To begin, go to the
following astronomy website. Then click on Star Light, Star Bright. Complete the following tasks and
record the information requested.
Catching The Waves (Click “Next” in the upper right corner until you reach the spectrum picture)
1. Label the electromagnetic spectrum below. Include the approximate size of each type of
wave. Then feel free to add any other notes regarding the electromagnetic spectrum. (You
will need to click each type of wave to obtain the proper information.)
Making Waves (Click “Next” twice, and then click on Making Waves)
2. The wavelength of light is related to its_______________.
3. After adjusting the energy level, describe how the waves change.
4. Low frequency and low energy are associated with which color of light?
Click on “Light Facts” in the upper right corner:
5. Higher frequencies and high energy are associated with which color of light?
6. Ultraviolet light penetrates our skin and gets stopped (absorbed) by the tissues just beneath it.
X-rays penetrate all the way through skin and muscle and are finally stopped by bones and
denser objects. Why does X-ray light get farther into our bodies than ultraviolet?
Heating Up (Click “Next,” then Heating Up)
7. What happens to the robot’s color as the temperature is increased?
8. As the temperature of the robot increases, its color becomes?
Click “Next”:
9 What can you conclude about the peak wavelength from the graph, as the temperature
increases?
Click “Next” (Stellar Personalities):
10. Choose 4 stars from the list and describe their color. (You will need to click “Next” to see their
color.)
a. ________________________________________________________
b. ________________________________________________________
c. ________________________________________________________
d. ________________________________________________________
Click “Next”:
11. After plotting the measurements on the graph, what connection can you make between
star temperatures and colors?
Click “Next”:
12. Hot stars put out their peak radiation at_____________?
13. What is the color of a star that has a temperature of 30,000 degrees? ______________
14. Why does a star appear blue when it also emits green and red light? The star appears blue
because its peak wavelength is in the portion of the spectrum that is_________________
Stellar Encounters (Click “Next,” then Stellar Encounters)
15. List the highlighted stars in order based on color from hottest to coolest:
16. Which side of the galaxy is hotter? Why?