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Title
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Exploring Energy
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Type
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Primary: Field Assignment
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Operation
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Infinite Potential
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Mission:
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Mission 1: Critical Current
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Print Page
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24,25
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Subjects
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Earth and space science | Energy | Physical science | Energy | Kinetic energy | Potential energy | Science as inquiry | Science process skills | Analyzing data | Science
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Grades
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5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Keywords
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NASA, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, GOES, energy, form, space weather, Dr. Janet Green, solar wind, solar flare, coronal mass ejection, CME, magnetosphere, forecast, potential energy, kinetic energy, average speed, x-ray, xray, proton
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Duration
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02:00:00 (HH:MM:SS)
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Audience
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Teachers | Elementary Grades | Junior High
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Created On
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3/27/2009
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Copyright
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Janet Green photo: Peter Haydock, The JASON Project; All other photos: NASA
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From: Infinite Potential Mission 1: Critical Current (pp: 24,25) |
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Exploring Energy In this field assignment, you will analyze data collected from a GOES satellite on 10/28/03 by Dr. Green. You will use mathematical equations to help forecast where and when these high-energy electromagnetic particles will make contact with Earth. Assess the accuracy of your prediction by comparing it to the actual contact time and location. Once you have developed skills in space weather forecasting, use your knowledge of space weather and energy forms to survey and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of energy forms found in your local area. |
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Recall that your mission is to explore energy in its many forms. Now that you have been fully briefed, you will make important space weather forecasts by analyzing actual data obtained and transmitted by space weather satellites.The sun, in one way or another, is responsible for most of the energy we have here on Earth. It is also the main contributor to the space weather Dr. Janet Green monitors. The sun emits streams of solar wind in all different directions. Usually, this wind is relatively harmless, but if a solar flare or coronal mass ejection (CME) is released from the sun, the high-energy particles accelerated and emitted from these blasts could do some serious damage. On October 28, 2003 at approximately 11:12 UT (Universal Time), a giant solar flare was observed using an ultraviolet imaging telescope on one of NASA's space weather satellites. The flare produced x-rays (electromagnetic energy) that blasted towards Earth at the speed of light (2.99 x 105 km/s). Space weather scientists closely monitored the sun for further activity. Approximately 18 minutes later, space weather satellites observed a CME. This CME accelerated protons towards Earth at speeds reaching 90,000 km/s. Following these protons was the CME, a huge bubble of gas threaded with magnetic field lines, hurtling towards Earth at approximately 2,300 km/s. In this field assignment, you will analyze data collected from space weather satellites on October 28, 2003. You will use mathematical equations to help forecast when x-rays, protons and the CME will make contact with Earth. You will assess the accuracy of your prediction by comparing it to the actual contact time. Once you have developed skills in space weather forecasting, you will use your knowledge of space weather and energy forms to survey and evaluate the strengths and limitations of energy forms in your local area.  | Caution!
You must have the landowner's permission to access and photograph energy forms in your study. Never travel alone and take a responsible adult with you to the study sites at all times. |
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| Field Preparation |
- Identify and describe the consequences associated with x-rays, CMEs, and protons accelerated by CMEs when they collide with satellites, space stations, and Earth. Identify organizations that should be contacted in case of a CME.
- Understand how to apply and manipulate the equation:
 - Analyze data collected by NASA satellites and use mathematical calculations to predict how much time you will have to contact organizations that would be affected by these x-rays, protons, and CME.
- Compare your results with the actual time the x-rays, protons, and CME were detected by Earth-orbiting NASA satellites.
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| Mission Challenge |
- With a responsible adult, survey and document (photograph or draw) a variety of energy forms in your local area.
- Create a visual presentation which:
- Identifies and describes the forms of energy in your local area.
- Classifies these energy forms as potential energy or kinetic energy.
- Explains how these forms of energy affect your everyday life.
- Describes how a CME can affect these energy forms, and if so, explains the consequences.
- Assesses the strengths and limitations of these energy forms.
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| Mission Debrief |
- Describe how we use energy to make our lives more comfortable.
- If humans did not have the ability to harness and use energy, what do you think your life would be like today? Explain.
 | Journal Question
Describe how we know energy is present, even though it is not always visible. | |
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