20190924

Online reading assignment: quantum leaps, sun's outer layers (NC campus)

Astronomy 210, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

The following questions were asked on reading textbook chapters and previewing presentations on quantum leaps, and the sun's outer layers.


Selected/edited responses are given below.

Describe something you found interesting from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally interesting for you.
"The examples of miso soup and lava lamp ways how the sun works."

"I found the sun's outer layers interesting, quite fascinating how we found out about this information in order to better understand the sun itself."

"I had heard the term 'quantum leap' before, but I didn't know what it actually was until now. I had assumed it was something much more complicated."

"Quantum leaps--it has an intimidating name, but it's stuff that will (1) make you sound like you know what you are saying; (2) add important foundation knowledge for the future."

"Blackbody radiation. This was interesting to me because it talked about how a higher speed in motion with particles is heat. The electrons would move so much, and this would cause blackbody radiation. With these higher temperatures, there would be a visible glow."

"It is very interesting that when a discharge tube is zapped with a little electricity, it can give off certain photons that create awesome colors. Very vibrant colors as well."

Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
"Quantum leaps. I'm lost there."

"The photon rule. I get that you need energy to move an electron from one orbit to another but I need a more detailed explanation on how this works."

"Atoms emitting and absorbing photons."

"I am confused on the difference between sunspots and granulation, they seem very similar."

"Sunspots: are they are caused by some sort of magnetic pull?"

"Interesting, and also a bit confusing, is how sunspots are actually less hot than the sun. When I think sunspot, I typically think hot instantly."

An electron in an atom must emit a photon when it jumps from a __________ energy orbital to a __________ energy orbital.
lower; higher.  ******* [7]
higher; lower.  ******* [7]
(Both of the above choices.)  * [1]
(Unsure/guessing/lost/help!)  * [1]

An electron in an atom must absorb a photon when it jumps from a __________ energy orbital to a __________ energy orbital.
lower; higher.  ********* [9]
higher; lower.  ***** [6]
(Both of the above choices.)  [0]
(Unsure/guessing/lost/help!)  * [1]

The exterior of the sun, from inner to outermost layers, are the:
(Only correct responses shown.)
inner: photosphere [56%]
middle: chromosphere [69%]
outer: corona [75%]

State your preference regarding miso soup.
Strongly dislike.  * [1]
Dislike.  [0]
Neutral.  **** [4]
Like  ** [2]
Strongly like.  ***** [5]
(I don't know what miso soup is.)  ***** [5]

Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"Do we know an exact temperature of the sun? What's the sun's temperature in Fahrenheit?" (The surface of the sun is about 10,000° F, but the core is much, much hotter.)

"So if the sun is losing mass, though it is so large, eventually what will happen to our solar system?" (The current amount of mass the sun is losing (due to fusion in its core, and the solar wind) is a lot, but relatively speaking is minuscule compared to its total mass. So overall, not much.)

"I'm going to be sad if you don't plan on feeding us some time because you keep making us hungry during class."

"Never tried miso soup before but I would be happy to try it. "

"I don't have any questions yet... I am still letting all of the information sink in. I may have a question in class, however."

"Can we have a small review for the midterm?" (We'll have two classes of review for the upcoming midterm, and also extra-credit on both days. #makingitrain)

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