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Sunspot Science: Measuring the Frequency and Period of Sunspots Documents

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Main Document

Sunspot Science: Measuring the Frequency and Period of Sunspots 

written by Rebecca E. Vieyra
written by Ramon Lopez
written by Shannon Willoughby
written by Janelle M. Bailey

This activity for introductory physics introduces authentic sunspot data from NASA's Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) to promote understanding of period and frequency in the context cyclical patterns on the sun. Students will use time-stamped images to identify and analyze patterns in sunspot activity, then apply their findings to calculate the period of a solar cycle. This resource was developed with the support of a Cooperative Agreement from the NASA Heliophysics Education Consortium granted to Temple University and the AAPT. It is appropriate for lower-level undergraduate courses in conceptual physics and algebra-based physics. It can be easily adapted for high school physics courses as well.

Released under a Temple University and AAPT, 2019

Published March 6, 2019
Last Modified March 24, 2019

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Primary Documents (2)

Teacher's Guide: Sunspot Science 

by R. Vieyra, R. Lopez, J. Bailey, and S. Willoughby

Word Version: Full Instructor's Guide including problem set with answer key

Released under a Temple University and AAPT

Published March 6, 2019
Last Modified March 24, 2019

Student Worksheet: Sunspot Science 

by R. Vieyra and R. Lopez

Printable student handout

Released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 license. Copyright AAPT and Temple University

Published August 30, 2020
Last Modified October 7, 2020

Supplemental Documents

Relative Position and Frames of Reference 

by David Straw and Caroline Hall

This short student tutorial provides background information on frames of reference in space. Its goal is to promote understanding of the Earth/Sun system, giving consideration to the rotation of both sun and Earth, the ecliptic plane, and the tilt of both sun and Earth relative to the ecliptic plane.

Released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.

Published March 30, 2016
Last Modified April 9, 2019