The EUVE Orbit

Grade Levels: 9 - 10, geometry, 11 - 12, trigonometry
Time Requirements:
- Approximately 1 hour Preparation Time and 2 - 3 days Class Time
Student Prerequisites:
- map reading skills; knowledge of latitude and longitude
- graph plotting skills
Topics Covered by This Lesson:
- Astronomy/Space Science: Satellites, Orbits, Data Analysis
- Physics: Orbits
- Math: Sine/Cosine Functions, Graphing/Plotting
- Geography: Earth Coordinates

Brief Overview: The students will study the nature of a satellite's orbit around the Earth. This lesson plan implements elements of modern astrophysics in math classes for high school students. Information obtained from the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) NASA Satellite will be used as an application for learning about periodic functions such as sine and cosine in algebra or geometry classes.

Unit Features:
- A Realtime Plot of the EUVE Satellite Position above the Earth
- An "Interactive Tool" that allows students to obtain customized EUVE postion data
- A blank world map on which students will create their own plot of the position of EUVE above the Earth
- A blank sky map on which students will also plot the EUVE position against the background stars

Materials Required For This Lesson:
1. One globe per group of four students
2. One big color world map
3. Copies of world maps. These maps are for students to plot the position of the satellite as projected onto the surface of the Earth. An example of this map with the current EUVE position above the Earth can be seen by clicking here.
4. Copies of sky maps. These maps are for students to plot the position of the satellite against the background stars as seen from the center of the Earth.
5. You may want to show your students some illustrative resources:
  - EUVE Spacecraft (215066 bytes)
  - EUVE Satellite Launch Movie Clip (321681 bytes)
  - Movie Animation of EUVE Satellite in Orbit (464005 bytes)
6. "Sticky dots"
7. Graph paper
8. Scientific calculators
9. Picture of the EUVE satellite launch

Go To The Lesson Plan Content

Last Update: September 18, 1997

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