(Exam-Ready style)PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity
2026ofUpdated
a Coronal
Questions
Mass Ejection
& Verified
100%Answers
COMPETE SOLUTIONS.
+
PSCI 1421 Lab 10: Measuring the Velocity of a Coronal Mass Ejection
Description: This data analysis activity requires students to collect position and time data from
NASA’s Solar and Heliophysics Observatory (SOHO) coronagraph images to make meaning of
constant velocity motion and its graphical representations. This resource is designed to
supplement Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy for lecture-style classrooms.
Prerequisite:
● Understand the definition and calculation of average velocity.
Learn more about solar activity by
reading “A Space-Age Portrait of the
Active Sun” in The Physics Teacher by
David E. McKenzie and Timothy F. Slater.
http://aapt.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1119/1.879905
PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity of a Coronal Mass Ejection Page 1
, (Exam-Ready style)PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity
2026ofUpdated
a Coronal
Questions
Mass Ejection
& Verified
100%Answers
COMPETE SOLUTIONS.
Instructions:
In this activity, you will analyze a set of coronagraph images captured by the NASA’s SOHO (Solar and
Heliophysics Observatory), which is a camera that takes images of the Sun. The coronagraph is especially
helpful for observing coronal mass ejections (CMEs), plasma releases and strong magnetic fields from
the surface of the sun. These clouds of high-energy particles can come toward Earth, damaging satellites
above the Earth, causing aurorae in the upper atmosphere, and even interfering with the electric grid on
the surface of the Earth.
Credit: NASA
Knowing how fast these CMEs move when coming toward Earth is important, so that space weather
scientists can adequately warn astronauts, pilots, and people on the surface of the Earth that damage might
be caused if precautions are not taken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP1ZZcbg7wk&ab_channel=MichelvanBiezen
Section 1: Collect Data for Positions and Times of a CME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrnGi-q6iWc&ab_channel=NASAGoddard
1. Watch the video of CMEs shown by your instructor. (Or, see a variety of CME videos from
SOHO here: https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/bestofsoho/Movies/flares.html). Based on
these videos, what kinds of questions might we be able to ask? List at least 3.
- How do the eruptions that occur in the Sun affect Earth? Do they cause heat waves, or a
natural disaster?
- Are the eruptions constantly happening on the Sun? Or do they occur only at certain
times?
- At what scale do the eruptions reach out front the surface of the sun?
2. Using a set of coronagraph images with your partner, identify a feature of the CME that you
can follow from screenshot to screenshot. Similar to clouds, CMEs often change shape, but
identifying features can be used to estimate measurements.
a) What feature did you choose? Why?
b) You will be provided a ruler to quantify these changes in position of your identifying Where will
PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity of a Coronal Mass Ejection Page 2
2026ofUpdated
a Coronal
Questions
Mass Ejection
& Verified
100%Answers
COMPETE SOLUTIONS.
+
PSCI 1421 Lab 10: Measuring the Velocity of a Coronal Mass Ejection
Description: This data analysis activity requires students to collect position and time data from
NASA’s Solar and Heliophysics Observatory (SOHO) coronagraph images to make meaning of
constant velocity motion and its graphical representations. This resource is designed to
supplement Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy for lecture-style classrooms.
Prerequisite:
● Understand the definition and calculation of average velocity.
Learn more about solar activity by
reading “A Space-Age Portrait of the
Active Sun” in The Physics Teacher by
David E. McKenzie and Timothy F. Slater.
http://aapt.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1119/1.879905
PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity of a Coronal Mass Ejection Page 1
, (Exam-Ready style)PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity
2026ofUpdated
a Coronal
Questions
Mass Ejection
& Verified
100%Answers
COMPETE SOLUTIONS.
Instructions:
In this activity, you will analyze a set of coronagraph images captured by the NASA’s SOHO (Solar and
Heliophysics Observatory), which is a camera that takes images of the Sun. The coronagraph is especially
helpful for observing coronal mass ejections (CMEs), plasma releases and strong magnetic fields from
the surface of the sun. These clouds of high-energy particles can come toward Earth, damaging satellites
above the Earth, causing aurorae in the upper atmosphere, and even interfering with the electric grid on
the surface of the Earth.
Credit: NASA
Knowing how fast these CMEs move when coming toward Earth is important, so that space weather
scientists can adequately warn astronauts, pilots, and people on the surface of the Earth that damage might
be caused if precautions are not taken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP1ZZcbg7wk&ab_channel=MichelvanBiezen
Section 1: Collect Data for Positions and Times of a CME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrnGi-q6iWc&ab_channel=NASAGoddard
1. Watch the video of CMEs shown by your instructor. (Or, see a variety of CME videos from
SOHO here: https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/bestofsoho/Movies/flares.html). Based on
these videos, what kinds of questions might we be able to ask? List at least 3.
- How do the eruptions that occur in the Sun affect Earth? Do they cause heat waves, or a
natural disaster?
- Are the eruptions constantly happening on the Sun? Or do they occur only at certain
times?
- At what scale do the eruptions reach out front the surface of the sun?
2. Using a set of coronagraph images with your partner, identify a feature of the CME that you
can follow from screenshot to screenshot. Similar to clouds, CMEs often change shape, but
identifying features can be used to estimate measurements.
a) What feature did you choose? Why?
b) You will be provided a ruler to quantify these changes in position of your identifying Where will
PSCI 1421 Lab 10 Measuring the Velocity of a Coronal Mass Ejection Page 2
