Download Activity: Star Classification - d

Activity: Star Classification
Pre-Activity Notes:

A star is an enormous, hot ball of gas held together by ________________.

The gravity is so strong that it causes _____________________________ within the star.

Stars are the only objects that heat & light the planets in a system.

A star is a huge ball of ____________, usually made of ________________ (H) & _____________ (He).

That ball of fire also gives off all kinds of light… There are __________________,
___________________, ___________________, & X-rays constantly emitted into space.

Astronomers look at three main characteristics of stars. They study ______________________,
______________________, & ___________________ (size).
Part 1: Exploring with Classification
 Each group will receive 1 set of 27 stars.
 Every star has: a color, name, temperature, size, & luminosity value
o The luminosity is compared to the sun's luminosity. If a star has a luminosity value of 5, then it is
5 times brighter than our sun. If a star has a luminosity value of 0.1, than it is 1/10 the brightness
of our sun.
 Explore the stars – spread them out on your table & create 3 different arrangements.
 Record the 3 different arrangements in each data table below.
Arrangement #1 - We arranged our stars according to:
List 3 observations about this arrangement:
1.
2.
3.
Arrangement #2 - We arranged our stars according to:
List 3 observations about this arrangement:
1.
2.
3.
http://www.middleschoolscience.com 2003. Modified by E. Schumacher, 2009
Arrangement #3 - We arranged our stars according to:
List 3 observations about this arrangement:
1.
2.
3.
Part 2: Classification Challenge
 Is there a master way to organize the stars using ALL of this information?
 Using the large whiteboard, try to plot all of your stars. You choose the Y- and X- axis.
Y Axis:
 Draw what you came up with in the box, but only draw circles & dots to represent the stars. DO NOT
write the names of every star!!
X Axis:
Analysis & Conclusion:
Color & Temperature
1. What do you think color tells us about temperature? ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. A star’s color depends on its temperature. Color in the boxes below to show what color a star burns at each
http://www.middleschoolscience.com 2003. Modified by E. Schumacher, 2009
temperature:
Very Hot
Hot
Warm
Cool
Very Cool
Size
3. What can we say about medium sized stars? __________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. What can we say about large stars? _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Luminosity
5. What is the difference between luminosity & brightness? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. What do you think temperature tells us about luminosity? _______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
7. What do you think size tells us about luminosity? ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Special Stars
8. Name one star that is cool & dim: _____________________________

What is its temperature? __________________ Luminosity value? __________________
9. Name one star that is cool & bright: _____________________________

What is its temperature? __________________ Luminosity value? __________________
10. Name one star that is hot & dim: _____________________________

What is its temperature? __________________ Luminosity value? __________________
11. Name one star that is hot & bright: _____________________________

What is its temperature? __________________ Luminosity value? __________________
12. Complete the table below. The first row is done for you. You may need a textbook!
Name of Special Star
Size
Temperature
Luminosity
Example
Blue Giant
Massive
Really Hot
Really Bright
Naos
Small
Hot
Dim
Red Giant
Supergiant
Blue Dwarf
Red Dwarf
http://www.middleschoolscience.com 2003. Modified by E. Schumacher, 2009