Brief description:
In this activity, teachers and students simulate a comet nucleus in the classroom.
Comets are considered to be time capsules containing
information about the conditions of the early Solar
System.
The ingredients used accurately represent an
analogue of the material found in a real comet nucleus, as discovered using spectroscopy
combined with the results from spacecraft flybys of various comets.
As an extension activity, students can discuss impact processes on Earth and calculations of the kinetic energy involved.
Subject:
Science, Physics, Chemistry
Learning Objectives:
Students should understand the basic differences between comets and asteroids.
Students should be familiar with the basic compositional parameters of comets.
Students should be able to make simple calculations of the energy conversions that take place when comets or asteroids impact planets.
Age range:
14 – 18 years old
Time
Preparation: 20 minutes
Lesson: 20 minutes to 1 hour
Resource available in: English, French, German, and Italian
In this activity, students will make an analogue of a comet nucleus using common ingredients to represent the main groups of materials found in comet nuclei.
Some of the materials, like dry ice, are hazardous – instructions on how to use them will be given.
Equipment
Dry ice (about 0.75 litres, the smallest pellets available)
Water (about 0.75 litres)
Large bin liners/garbage bags
10 tablespoons (4 very large wooden spoonfuls) of soil (make sure soil is not clumpy, but regular
in consistency)
1 tablespoons of carbon dust/powder or graphite powder
2-3 tablespoons of whisky, vodka, or red wine (methanol/ethanol component)
A few drops of soy sauce (organic component)
A few drops of cleaning product (ammonia component)
Large plastic bowl
Bucket for disposal
Wooden spoon
Clear safety screen
Polystyrene container for dry ice
Thermal protective gloves
Safety glasses for all participants and demonstrators
Protective laboratory coat for demonstrator (optional)
Measuring jugs
Did you know?
ESA’s Herschel infrared space observatory was launched in 2009 and carried a powerful infrared telescope.
In 2010, Herschel conducted far-infrared spectroscopic observations of comet 103P/Hartley 2 and observed the emission of vast quantities of water from its nucleus.
It was found that the water content of the comet has an identical ratio to the water content of Earth’s oceans.
This provided the first direct evidence to support the theory that Earth’s original water content came
from the same source as some comets.
Brief description: In this activity, students will consider whether life found in extreme environments on Earth could survive elsewhere in the Solar System. Students will
Brief description: In this set of activities students will learn how scientists study exoplanets with telescopes, using the transit method. Students will characterise exoplanets using