Exploring the Universe through the Curriculum for Excellence

Dr Martin Hendry

Astronomy and Astrophysics Group, Institute for Gravitational Research

Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow

Timetable for the day:

1. Introductions and background 10.15 – 10.30

2. Science and the Curriculum for Excellence: 10.30 – 12.30

• Overview of experiences and outcomes;

• General strategies for engaging able pupils;

• Some ‘big’ science questions for exploring;

• Support and resources.

12.30 – 1.15

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

3. Spring 2010 science challenge 1.15 – 2.45

• Overview of theme and goals;

• Criteria for identifying participants;

• Role of the project mentors.

Lunch

4. Summary and wrap-up 2.45 – 3.00

Did we really land on the Moon?...

Dr Martin HendryUniversity of Glasgow

Apollo 11

FOX TV Documentary“Conspiracy Theory: Did We Really

Go to the Moon?”

The Hoax ClaimIt never happened

3. shadows aren’t parallel?

2. no stars?

1. waving flag?

3. shadows aren’t parallel?

3. shadows aren’t parallel?

4. film played fast looks like

on Earth

2. no stars?

1. waving flag?

3. shadows aren’t parallel?

6. lit in the shade?

7. Dust problems

5. Lens crosshairs behind things?

8. Radiation

footprints no blast crater

now you see it! now you don’t?

9. Identical backgrounds

10. fuel jets?

now you see it! now you don’t?

9. Identical backgrounds

4. slowed film4. slowed film

7. Dust problems

1. waving flag

2. no stars 3. non-parallel shadows

5. crosshairs

6. lit in the shade

9. similar backgrounds

Convincing?

8. radiation

10. no jets10. no jets

4. slowed film4. slowed film

7. Dust problems

1. waving flag

2. no stars 3. non-parallel shadows

5. crosshairs

6. lit in the shade

9. similar backgrounds

Convincing?

8. radiation

10. no jets10. no jets

4. Slowed film

10. No jets

1. The Waving Flag

1. The Waving Flag

What the TV Show says

• What could be causing the flag to wave?

• Is there anything strange about the Apollo flag?

• What would a flag really do on the Moon?

Some questions to think about

Back to main menu

1. The Waving Flag

1. The Waving Flag

Would the flag wave on the Moon, where there’s no

atmosphere?

1. The Waving Flag

1. The Waving Flag

1. The Waving Flag

Labor Day in Johnson City, TN

Back to main menu

2. No stars

2. No stars

2. No stars

• Should we see stars in the Apollo photographs?

• What determines if we see stars in any photograph we take at night?

• What sources of light were there on the Moon?

• How would these have affected the Apollo photographs?

Some questions to think about

Back to main menu

Back to main menu

3. Non-parallel Shadows

What the TV Show says

Some questions to think about

• Do we expect the shadows in photographs to run parallel to each other?

• If there were bright lights in a studio, what would we expect the shadows to look like?

• How could we test out these ideas for ourselves?

Back to main menu

3. Non-parallel Shadows

3. Non-parallel Shadows

3. Non-parallel Shadows

3. Non-parallel Shadows

3. Non-parallel Shadows

3. Non-parallel Shadows

Back to main menu

4. Film slowed down

4. Film slowed down

What the TV Show says

• Does the Apollo film, slowed down, really look like the astronauts are on Earth?

• If they were on Earth, how manoeuvrable would their spacesuits have been?

Some questions to think about

Back to main menu

4. Film slowed down

Back to main menu

5. Disappearing Crosshairs

What the TV Show says

Some questions to think about

• What are the crosshairs supposed to be?

• Is there any pattern to the photos where they appear?

• If so, what does this tell us about a possible explanation, and a way to test our ideas?

Back to main menu

5. Disappearing Crosshairs

5. Disappearing Crosshairs

5. Disappearing Crosshairs

Back to main menu

6. Lit in the Shade?

What the TV Show says

Some questions to think about

• What are the sources of light in the photos?

• Would we expect deep shadows on the Moon?

• What factors affect the shadows we see on Earth?

Back to main menu

6. Lit in the Shade?

6. Lit in the Shade?

6. Lit in the Shade?

6. Lit in the Shade?

Back to main menu

7. Dust problems?

What the TV Show says

• How rapid would the Lunar Module descend?

• Would we expect it to make a blast crater?

• What factors will affect how much dust gets thrown up by the Lunar Module engines?

• How would this dust behave on the Moon?

Back to main menu

Some questions to think about

The final descent of Apollo 11

7. Dust problems?

No blast crater?

7. Dust problems?

7. Dust problems?

Simulating the LEM descent

7. Dust problems?

Driving the lunar rover

Back to main menu

8. Radiation

Some questions to think about

• Where does the radiation in space come from?

• What kinds of radiation are there?

• What would these different types of radiation do to the astronauts?

• What if we were going to Mars, instead of the Moon?

• What if we were onboard the International Space Station?

Back to main menu

Charged particles from the Sun reach the Earth and are trapped in the Van Allen

radiation belts

7. Radiation

7. Radiation

Shielding against radiation

7. Radiation

8. Radiation

Back to main menu

9. Identical Backgrounds?

What the TV Show says

• How far can we see on a clear day?

• How do we tell how far away things are?

• What happens to our view of nearby things when we begin to move?

• What about our view of distant things?

Some questions to think about

Back to main menu

9. Identical Backgrounds?

9. Identical Backgrounds?

9. Identical Backgrounds?

Ridge

9. Identical Backgrounds?

9. Identical Backgrounds?

Back to main menu

10. No fuel jets?

What the TV Show says

• Do all fuels burn with the same colour of flame?

• What factors determine the flame that we see?

• When might we not see a burning flame?

• What effects might a fuel jet have that we don’t see?

Back to main menu

Some questions to think about

10. No fuel jets?

10. No fuel jets?

Back to main menu

What do you think?...

moon@astro.gla.ac.uk

www.astro.gla.ac.uk/users/martin/moonhoax/

“Proof” that Moon Landings Happened

All the live video footage was tracked by a network of “dishes” during the Apollo missions

“Proof” that Moon Landings Happened

Over 382kg of moon rocks brought back

All the live video footage was tracked by a network of “dishes” during the Apollo missions

“Proof” that Moon Landings Happened

Over 382kg of moon rocks brought backOver 130 separate lunar ranging studies rely on reflectors left behind by astronauts

All the live video footage was tracked by a network of “dishes” during the Apollo missions

Gravity measured from original footage checks out at ~1/6th Earth’s gravity, as expected

What do you think?...

moon@astro.gla.ac.uk

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009

Project summary to date:

• More than 50 schools participated so far

• Wide range of activities undertaken – exploring diverse scientific topics: gravity and forces, colour and spectroscopy, atmospheric pressure and evaporation, air resistance, geometry and optical illusions, radiation, distances and scaling relations.

• Excellent grasp of experimental methodology: control principle, importance of reproducibility, documenting of procedures, consideration of alternative hypotheses.

• Varied and innovative presentation styles: laptops, short video segments, demonstrations, models, posters, etc…

• The participants had fun!

SNAP Associate Tutor Day, December 3rd 2009