Unit 7: Astrophysics ~ Getting Started

Astrophysics combines our knowledge of light (radiation), chemical reactions, atoms, energy, and physical motion into one. The things we’re going to study in this unit borders on sci-fi weird, but I assure you it’s all the same stuff real scientists are studying. This unit is broken into two sections: easy-and-fun, and mind-bending-hard. If you feel like you’re getting a little lost, simply jump over to the experiments and just have fun.

The first Lesson, Particle Physics, is mind-bending-hard, because we’re going to deepen our understanding of the atom itself. This will challenge your sense of reality and the only way you can make any sense of it is to leave your intuition behind. I’ve put it first not to drive you crazy, but to give you a background on what the second lesson (Astronomy) is all about.  We recommend Lesson 1: Particle Physics mostly for kids 7th grades and up. However, you can share what you feel is appropriate for your kids.

If you feel that Lesson 1: Particle Physics gives you brain cramps, just skip it for now and jump right over to the fun stuff in Lesson 2: Astronomy. Particle Physics is not required to understand the second lesson in Astronomy.

The second lesson, Astronomy, focuses on all the fun stuff about the universe and space exploration. We’re going to look at the structures of stars, black holes, and even learn how gravity affects the orbits of planets by creating our own solar system and watching it go.

One of the best things you can do with this unit is to take notes in a journal as you go. Snap photos of yourself doing the actual experiment and paste them in alongside your drawing of your experimental setup. This is the same way scientists document their own findings, and it’s a lot of fun to look back at the splattered pages later on and see how far you’ve come. I always jot down my questions that didn’t get answered with the experiment across the top of the page so I can research it more later. Are you ready to get started?