Astronomy Interactives

Astronomy Interactives are flash animations that allow students to practice a task in introductory astronomy. Students will be asked to manipulate symbols in a manner which demonstrates understanding of important astronomy concepts. The activity may be a ranking task, sorting task, or other operation. The tasks will be randomized whenever possible and will provide feedback. Student are encouraged to take them repeatedly to gain mastery of the concept.

This site will serve as a posting location for Astronomy Interactives sufficiently well-developed that using them with students is appropriate although further refinement will undoubtedly occur. As the number of Astronomy Interactives grows, eventually some type of search engine with keywords will be necessary. Until then the list below will have to do.

Lunar Ranking Tasks

• Example Assignment (all following swf's in an assignment)
• in EDU (all following swf's in an assignment)
• Order the Phases of the Moon (Earth View of Moon):
  • Normal version,
  • Chronological version
• Order the Phases of the Moon (Top-Down View of Lunar Orbit):
  • Normal version,
  • Chronological version,
  • Hard version
• Order the Phases of the Moon (Mixed Views):
  • Normal version,
  • Chronological version,
  • Hard version
• Order an Earth Observer's Time of Day:
  • Normal version,
  • Chronological version,
  • Hard version
• Order Meridian Times of Lunar Phases:
  • Normal version,
  • Chronological version,
  • Hard version
• Order Lunar Rising/Setting Times:
  • Normal version,
  • Hard version
• Order the Times of Day, Given the Sun's Location on the Celestial Equator:
  • Normal version
• Order the Lunar Phases, Given the Sun and Moon's Location on the Celestial Equator:
  • Normal version (Sun Fixed),
  • Normal version (Sun Variable)

Seasons Ranking Tasks

• Example Assignment (all following swf's in an assignment)
• in EDU (all following swf's in an assignment)
• Order Icons representing Latitudes based on Intensity of Sunlight:
  • Normal version
• Order Icons representing the Latitude where the Direct Rays of the Sun are Hitting:
  • Normal version
• Order Icons representing a "cylinder of sunlight" of the Sun from various latitudes:
  • Normal version
• Order Horizon Diagrams with Sun Paths for Solstice/Equinoxes by Latitude:
  • Normal version
• Order Horizon Diagrams with Date and Direction of the Sun
  • Normal version
• Order Horizon Diagrams with Relative Location and Date of the Sun
  • Normal version

Light Spectrum Ranking Tasks

• Example Assignment (all following swf's in an assignment)
• in EDU (all following swf's in an assignment)
• Order the Electromagnetic Spectrum:
  • Normal version
• Order Icons representing Stars by their Luminosity:
  • Normal version
• Order Icons representing Orbital Transitions in the Hydrogen Atom:
  • Normal version

Miscellaneous or Unsorted Ranking Tasks

• Order Spheres by Density:
  • Normal version
• Order graphs of black body radiation:
  • Normal version