Write a research paper providing an explanation of the key points about academic dishonesty and copyright.

Write a research paper providing an explanation of the key points about academic dishonesty and copyright.

All content in this course is copyright protected and may NOT be posted or shared outside of this UMGC classroom (with the sole exception of Turnitin®). Posting of UMGC copyrighted materials elsewhere is a violation of UMGC’s Policy 190.00 on Intellectual Property.
Seeking outside assistance on any coursework though a non-UMGC-approved tutoring website or tutoring service risks violating UMGC’s Policy 150.25 on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Applied Project Work
This course includes project-based work that requires you to go outside and actually observe something (the Sun, Moon, or stars). Your individual results/analysis from this work will be submitted to the appropriate Assignments Folder.

There are three project-based activities:

Sun Activity (see the Sun Activity Assignment Folder for details)
Star Activity (see the Star Activity Assignment Folder for details)
Moon Activity (see the Moon Activity Assignment Folder for details)
Note on project due-dates:

Your goal should be to submit completed Sun Activity work by the end of Week 2, Star Activity work by the end of Week 4, and Moon Activity by the end of Week 6.

Two of the three projects (Sun Activity and Star Activity) can be completed at any time during the term. This flexibility is necessary due to students being scattered across the globe and thus experiencing different weather and observation conditions.

The Moon Activity is tied to specific dates during the term (near new moon). Students typically get two shots at making their observations in a “new moon window” during our 8-week term. Due to weather, work, or other unforeseen factors, students may make their Moon observations outside of a “new moon window.” Note that observation and analysis is easier when done near new moon. Your instructor will inform you of the appropriate dates and times (please see the schedule in the syllabus for details).

Diameter of the Sun Activity (80 points)

Brief Overview of Activity: A pinhole can form an image in much the same way as a lens. Measuring the size of the Sun’s projected image and the distance between the pinhole and the image, you will be able to calculate the diameter of the Sun.

Required Items: a friend to help you, a broom handle (or mop handle or long straight piece of wood of similar dimensions), a ruler (marked in centimeters), two envelopes (or two 5 x 7 index cards), a pencil, masking tape, one stickpin.

Number of Observations needed: 1

Timing of Observations: near noon on a bright sunny day.

Grading Criteria:

50 points – doing the activity and providing all data (Preparation and Observation are each worth 25 points)
10 points – submitting the required photo (see below)
20 points – correctly doing the calculation and showing calculation details (worth 10 points of the 20 points)
Procedure:

Preparation: Use the stickpin to poke a small hole near the center of one of the envelopes. Mark a location near the top of the broom handle with masking tape (this is where your friend will hold the envelope with the pin-hole). Mark another location near the end of the broom handle with masking tape (this is where you will observe and mark the image). Carefully measure the distance between your two marked locations on your broom handle. Make your measurement to the nearest 0.1 centimeter and record here: D = ___________ cm.

Observation: Caution: never stare directly at the Sun. Gather your friend, marked broom handle, two envelopes, pencil, and then head outside. With your friend holding the envelope with the pinhole at the upper marked position and you holding the other envelope at the lower marked location, align the broom handle such that a small faint image of the Sun’s disk is seen on the lower envelope. You may find it convenient to actually sit on the ground for this procedure. With a pencil, carefully mark the location of opposite sides of the Sun’s disk. Below is a diagram of the setup.

Calculation: From your marked envelope (or index card), carefully measure the size of the projected image of the Sun’s disk to the nearest 0.1 centimeter and record here: d = __________ cm.

Submit a photo of your marked envelope (or index card) with your values of d and D, your name, the date, and course information (for example ASTR 100 section XXXX) clearly written on your marked envelope (or index card).

Next, use the relationship below to calculate the Sun’s diameter in kilometers. The distance to the Sun is 1.5 x 10 8 km.

Sun’s diameter in kilometers image diameter in centimeters d
———————————– = ——————————————- = —
Distance to the Sun in kilometers distance between image and pinhole in cm D

Record your calculated value for the diameter of the Sun ______________________ km

Note: You must show your step-by-step calculation for full credit (worth 10 points).

Experiment Setup
sunActSetup-Bobby-Bailey-2016

Last Completed Projects