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.
I found it was interesting that there's a way to analyze and produce colors from hydrogen by a 'discharge tube': 'When we zap the hydrogen in this tube with just enough electricity (or with enough heat) energy we can pay for the electrons to move up to outer orbits... This is essentially a torture chamber for the hydrogen electrons, zapping them to get them to give off this color.' Thank you for the visuals, it made it understandable and memorable."
"I really enjoyed learning about how neon signs work. I've always liked neon signs and I knew how they worked had something to do with different kinds of gasses creating different colors. But learning that each color is made from a different gas (or combination of) that has energy given to it and then the color is visible due to the atoms emitting a photon causing the electron to drop a level was interesting."
"I found the electron rule interesting due to the nature of the electrons and their inability to cross these preconceived lines. I didn't know previously that these tiny particles were so strict in their distances from the nucleus and all followed the same structures, unable to orbit 'in-between.' Also that these set distances directly correlate to their energy. Super-precise and interesting to think about. I also found the reference to neon signs and the different gases contained in them interesting, I didn't know this before and had never really questioned what made the colors so distinct."
"I found the presentation with the neon lights very interesting. It is crazy to think that the light we are looking at are filled with gases and that those paired with electricty create the colored photons we see."
"The thing that I found most interesting in this reading was the part about identifying elements in gas in outer space by studying the wavelengths of light that are absorbed or emitted."
"The visible surface of the sun or photosphere is an interesting concept because the temperature of the sun effects what color the light is and what is visible."
"I found the section on convection currents to be interesting. I found this part interesting because the comparison to a lava lamp made it much easier to understand."
"I liked all the analogies that were used in the presentation. They really helped me understand the difference between sunspots and granules."
"I thought it was interesting how you could truly relate a lava lamp to sun and the convection currents."
"That the photosphere is dense enough to emit light, but not dense enough for light to be trapped. I also found the sunspot cycle interesting because it relates to both the number of sunspots and location they are at on the sun."
"That sunspots are like magnets."
"This section really wasn't interesting me to personally. That being said if I had to pick something it would be learning what the photosphere is and how its the source of sunlight."
"I was fascinated learning about the sun and the different layers. I found it super-cool that there is a spot on the sun where we could land and not die immediately. I also liked the connection made with the sun and miso soup."
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
"The part that was most confusing for me was when we went over how electrons jump between different orbits and what the cause/effect is."
"I didn't totally understand the photon and electron rules. I found this to be difficult because I haven't done chemistry before and so I was a bit lost while reading this section of the presentation."
"Electrons confuse me because I have a tough time understanding their properties and how they behave."
"Everything relating to atoms--I've always had a hard time with the concepts and terminology dating back to middle school and especially in high school chemistry."
"Differentiating between where an electron jumps to when it either emits or absorbs a photon. Just getting them mixed up."
"Granules are still confusing to me because the miso soup analogy kind of skipped me and now I can't quite grasp the full meaning of it compared to convection currents."
"All the diagrams in the presentation were a bit confusing. I would love to have these explained deeper in class."
"I found the explanation for sunspots confusing. I know they are created by magnetism, and I don't know much about magnets which could be why it's confusing. But I don't understand why they are cooler than the granules."
"I'm kind of lost on some of this material but I kind of get it at the same time."
An electron in an atom must emit a photon when it jumps from a __________ energy orbital to a __________ energy orbital.
lower; higher. ***** [5] higher; lower. **************************** [28] (Both of the above choices.) [0] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ***** [5]
An electron in an atom must absorb a photon when it jumps from a __________ energy orbital to a __________ energy orbital.
lower; higher. *************************** [27] higher; lower. **** [4] (Both of the above choices.) [0] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ******* [7]
The exterior of the sun, from inner to outermost layers, are the:
(Only correct responses shown.)
inner: photosphere [76%]
middle: chromosphere [76%]
outer: corona [76%]
State your preference regarding miso soup.
Strongly dislike. [0] Dislike. [0] Neutral. ******* [7] Like ****** [6] Strongly like. ********************* [21] (I don't know what miso soup is.) **** [4]
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"Photons and electrons really confuse me so can you possibly go over this in depth?" (We will.)
"I had to pause my reading due to laughing so hard at the comment of being able to 'hear the electrons screaming,' very funny, and also slightly disconcerting."
"Why do sunspots normally come in pairs?" (Essentially they're like a temporary magnet just under the surface of the sun, which means there must be a north pole and a south pole for each of these regions.)
"Why miso soup?" (See the answer to the next question below.)
"There are patches in the sun that are the size of Texas and only last about 10 to 20 seconds." (Just like miso soup.)
I love miso soup, and I have eaten enough of it that I found that analogy with granules super clear!" (Why is your miso soup super clear?)
"Will we be eating miso soup next class?" (No. That will be your homework assignment this weekend.)
"Do other stars have sunspots?" (Yes, they do, although those spots would be called "starspots.")
"What is the difference between nuclear fusion and fission?" (Fusion is when you put together smaller atoms to assemble them into a bigger atom; while fission is when an atom splits apart into smaller atoms. Both processes can release energy, but getting starting fusion is harder than starting fission.)
"Does daylight saving time change the way we identify moon rise/overhead/set times, etc.?" (Well yes, but the tilt of the moon's orbit has a much bigger effect.)
"Do you have your own lava lamp?" (Yes, I do.)
"I wish our evening class started with some pumped-up music!" (Then you should come to the Madonna Inn on Monday nights when I DJ swing dancing.)
"I am nervous about the midterm! I hope the study guide is very helpful!" (I hope too, too.)
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