Black Holes
Materials
Activity Directions
Quizizz Link: https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5f077808fd468b001bebe8e8/start?studentShare=true
- Aluminum foil
- Scissors or sharp tool
- A flexible tape measure
- Weighing scale
- Latex balloon
Activity Directions
- Watch the Crash Course Astronomy video linked below
- Test your understanding of black holes by playing the Quizizz game linked below.
- Do the Creating a Black Hole Activity (Note: The video linked below also provides instructions on how to perform this activity)
- Blow up the latex balloon.
- Use the aluminum foil to completely wrap the inflated balloon, making sure that the surface of the balloon is completely covered.
- This wrapped balloon represents a large star.
- Measure and record the circumference and mass of the balloon using the tape measure and scale respectively (Note: The circumference is the length around the middle of the balloon).
- Gently squeeze the balloon using your hands. The balloon should resist being squeezed because of the air pressure inside the balloon.
- You squeezing the balloon represents the force of gravity on a star. The air pressure in the balloon resisting the pressure represents the fusion energy from the core of stars which combats the pressure from gravity.
- Using the scissors, pop the balloon but make sure to not crush the aluminum foil (Note: this step can be dangerous and adult supervision is strongly recommended).
- The balloon being popped represents the end of a star’s life as it runs out of fuel and the balance between gravity and nuclear fusion is broken.
- Now, gently squeeze the aluminum sphere again and observe how there isn’t any more resistance. Press the aluminum ball so it’s about an inch smaller in diameter than before; then, record the diameter and mass of the ball again.
- Repeat Step F a few more times, decreasing the diameter about an inch every time. Make sure to measure and record the mass and diameter after each trial.
- Finally, compact the aluminum ball as tight as you can and measure the diameter and mass one more time.
- Look back at your measurements; you should see that even though the ball of aluminum got smaller and smaller after every trial, the mass stayed the same.
- This represents how a star collapses, becoming denser until finally turning into a black hole due to its high density and gravitational force.
Quizizz Link: https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5f077808fd468b001bebe8e8/start?studentShare=true
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Suggested Videos:
Crash Course Astronomy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZWPBKULkdQ
Experiment Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcOxhdu5gh8
Crash Course Astronomy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZWPBKULkdQ
Experiment Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcOxhdu5gh8
Published 7.11.2020