Star-Spectra-Science-Teacher-Guide (1).docx - Star Spectra...

Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons
to Model Spectroscopy
Inspired by The Physics Teacher ’s
“Balloon and Button Spectroscopy: A Hands-On Approach to Light and Matter” by Joseph Ribaudo
Description: Students model spectroscopy through the analysis of colored buttons (“photons”) found
inside colored balloons (“stars”).
Purpose: Interpret spectra of stars by sorting colored buttons.
NGSS Connections:
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
 Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer: MS-PS4-2, HS-PS4-1,
HS-PS4-3
 Earth’s Place in the Universe: HS-ESS1-2, HS-ESS1-3
Crosscutting Concepts:
 Scale, proportion, and quantity
 Systems and system models
 Energy and matter: Flows, cycles, and conservation
Science and Engineering Practices:
 Developing and using models
 Analyzing and interpreting data
 Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Materials:
 buttons (per full set-up to be shared among a small group)
o Violet – 85 buttons
o Blue – 120
o Green – 80
o Yellow – 70
o Orange – 60
o Red - 60
 balloons (per full set-up to be shared among a small group)
o Red - 1
o White - 1
o Blue - 1
 sandwich bags or small cups – 3
 pushpins or scissors for popping balloons (optional)
 colored pencils/markers (optional)
Advanced Preparation:
 Prepare the following astronomical objects and spectra:
o If you choose to inflate the balloons, ensure they are
the same size.
o Red star
 Inside a red balloon, place the following types of
buttons: 4 violet, 5 blue, 5 green, 6 yellow, 8
orange, and 7 red.
 Blow up the balloon and tie it off (optional).
Find more modifiable lessons and a “DigitKit” at aapt.org/k12/TPTlessons.cfm
Lesson framework developed by Rebecca Vieyra: [email protected]

o White star
 Inside a white balloon, place the following
types of buttons: 12 violet, 12 blue, 13
green, 12 yellow, 11 orange, and 10 red.
 Blow up the balloon and tie it off (optional).
o Blue star
 Inside a blue balloon, place the following
types of buttons: 25 violet, 30 blue, 25
green, 20 yellow, 15 orange, and 13 red.
 Blow up the balloon and tie it off (optional).
o Spectra from blue star with absorption
 Label the plastic baggie as “a.”
 In the plastic baggie, place the following
types of buttons: 4 violet, 30 blue, 2 green,
20 yellow, 14 orange, and 10 red.
o Spectra from white start with discrete emission
 Label the plastic baggie as “b.”
 In the plastic baggie, place the following types of buttons: 25 violet, 12 blue, 13
green, 12 yellow, 10 orange, and 20 red.
o Spectra with discrete emission
 Label the plastic baggie as “c.”
 In the plastic baggie, place the following types of buttons: 15 violet, 1 blue, 20
green, 1 yellow, 1 orange, and 1 red.
Activities (in brief):
 Discuss the nature of light and the various ways light can be categorized (color, energy,
wavelength, frequency).
 Ask students to assign a wavelength (in nm) and calculate the corresponding energy (in eV) for
each color in the visible spectrum.