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The Importance of Radio Astronomy

Students will learn about the importance of radio astronomy to the study of space. After reviewing radio waves students will participate in a hands-on activity that models how radio telescopes work. Once they understand how the data is collected students will investigate one of the telescopes and learn about the important work done at that location.

NGSS Standards

MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

MS-PS4-3 Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information than analog signals.

MS-PS4-5 Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.

Materials 

umbrellas

ball pit balls

colored pencils

radio telescope

Key Words

Radio Astronomy

radio frequencies

Downloadable Materials

Teacher 

English

Spanish

Student 

English

Spanish

                              

 

Acknowledgments

The banner is courtesy of macrovector on FreePik

The photo is courtesy of Bettymaya Foott, NRAO/AUI/NSF

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