Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy

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written by Rebecca E. Vieyra
published by the American Association of Physics Teachers

This lesson blends physics, math, and space science as students explore the spectra of stars using a physical model composed of balloons and buttons. This activity introduces students to concepts of wavelength, color, and emission spectra. It is based on an article in The Physics Teacher.

Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy
by by Rebecca Vieyra

download 1012kb .pdf
Published: June 15, 2022
Rights: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
previous versions

.docx

Teacher's Guide: Star Spectra - Modifiable Word Version
by Rebecca Vieyra
Printable Word version of the lesson plan with assessment.
download 990kb .docx
Published: June 15, 2022
Rights: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
previous versions

.docx

Student Worksheet: Star Spectra
by Rebecca Vieyra
Printable Student Guide for distribution in the classroom.
download 918kb .docx
Published: June 15, 2022
Rights: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
previous versions

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Astronomy - Fundamentals = Energy and Temperature = Spectra - Stars = Spectral Types Education Practices - Active Learning = Modeling Modern Physics - Atomic Physics = Spectra	- High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Instructor Guide/Manual = Problem/Problem Set = Student Guide - Assessment Material

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Access Rights:: Available by subscription
License:: This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:: American Association of Physics Teachers
Keywords:: Stefan-Boltzmann Law, atomic spectra, black body radiation, photon energy, spectral curves, spectroscopy
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created February 17, 2017 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: August 13, 2022 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: January 30, 2017
Other Collections:: The Physics Front

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Next Generation Science Standards

Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer (HS-PS4)

Students who demonstrate understanding can: (9-12)

Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. (HS-PS4-1)

Earth's Place in the Universe (HS-ESS1)

Students who demonstrate understanding can: (9-12)

Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements. (HS-ESS1-3)

Disciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)

Electromagnetic Radiation (PS4.B)

Electromagnetic radiation (e.g., radio, microwaves, light) can be modeled as a wave of changing electric and magnetic fields or as particles called photons. The wave model is useful for explaining many features of electromagnetic radiation, and the particle model explains other features. (9-12)
Atoms of each element emit and absorb characteristic frequencies of light. These characteristics allow identification of the presence of an element, even in microscopic quantities. (9-12)

The Universe and its Stars (ESS1.A)

The study of stars' light spectra and brightness is used to identify compositional elements of stars, their movements, and their distances from Earth. (9-12)

Crosscutting Concepts (K-12)

Patterns (K-12)

Different patterns may be observed at each of the scales at which a system is studied and can provide evidence for causality in explanations of phenomena. (9-12)

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity (3-12)

The significance of a phenomenon is dependent on the scale, proportion, and quantity at which it occurs. (9-12)

Systems and System Models (K-12)

When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models. (9-12)

Energy and Matter (2-12)

Energy drives the cycling of matter within and between systems. (9-12)

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)

Analyzing and Interpreting Data (K-12)

Analyzing data in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to introducing more detailed statistical analysis, the comparison of data sets for consistency, and the use of models to generate and analyze data. (9-12)
- Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution. (9-12)

Developing and Using Models (K-12)

Modeling in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural and designed worlds. (9-12)
- Use a model to provide mechanistic accounts of phenomena. (9-12)

Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking (5-12)

Mathematical and computational thinking at the 9–12 level builds on K–8 and progresses to using algebraic thinking and analysis, a range of linear and nonlinear functions including trigonometric functions, exponentials and logarithms, and computational tools for statistical analysis to analyze, represent, and model data. Simple computational simulations are created and used based on mathematical models of basic assumptions. (9-12)
- Use mathematical representations of phenomena to describe explanations. (9-12)

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=14318">Vieyra, Rebecca E.. "Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy." College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2017.</a>

AIP Format

R. Vieyra, , 2017, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677).

AJP/PRST-PER

R. Vieyra, Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy, 2017, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677>.

APA Format

Vieyra, R. (2017). Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy. College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677

Chicago Format

Vieyra, Rebecca E.. "Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy." College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2017. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677 (accessed 1 May 2025).

MLA Format

Vieyra, Rebecca E.. Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy. College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2017. 1 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677>.

BibTeX Export Format

@techreport{ Author = "Rebecca E. Vieyra", Title = {Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy}, Institution = {American Association of Physics Teachers}, Address = {College Park}, Month = {January}, Year = {2017} }

Refer Export Format

%A Rebecca E. Vieyra %T Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy %D January 30, 2017 %I American Association of Physics Teachers %C College Park %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Report %A Vieyra, Rebecca E. %D January 30, 2017 %T Star Spectra Science: Using Balloons and Buttons to Model Spectroscopy %C College Park %I American Association of Physics Teachers %8 January 30, 2017 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14318&DocID=4677

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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

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