relative size classroom activity

http://www2.semo.edu/mast/garner.htm

earth as peppercorn

http://www.noao.edu/education/peppercorn/pcmain.html

relative size

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1768855/the_size_of_all_planets_are_relative/

research plan

Our goal is to demonstrate to the class two astronomical phenomenons. The first is the evolutions and changes in the life of a star.  The second are the changing of the seasons on earth.  We want to show this information by leading the class through a two-act interactive movement exercise.  This will include the first act on the evolution of a star choreographed as in interpretive dance and the second act also a choreographed piece facilitated by the interaction of participants from the class.  The interaction of the class within the second act is intentional to show the relevant effect of the seasons where as the life of a star is more abstract and less relevant to our daily lives.  Our research will contain two main focuses, the first being a detailed understanding of the life of a star and the reasons for earth seasons. In order to successfully demonstrate these complex phenomenons through interpretive dance it is important to know this information sufficiently. Various concepts include Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation in both quantitative and qualitative forms. The Foucault's pendulum experiment in the documentation of the Earths access and why the tilt of the Earth's axis determines length of day, seasons and other physical properties.  Once this information is understood then we have the information to choreograph a clear piece inspired by the movement and alignment of the planets in relation to the sun in our solar system.

Dance your PhD

Dance your PhD on youtube is a good source of ideas.... i haven't found one specifically on stars yet though, or earth rotation.

more serious science dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6qifQoA_2A

goofy star dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ChLvD0dRJY

small stars like our sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLCo1P-_CvQ

stars excersizes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIwEvZ2fg2U

motion diagram

prototype mockups

smoke hazard

flame

september 26th class time

We used class time this morning to perform small scale experiments with the materials we will use with the final balloon. We came across a new design for the balloon, inspired by flying faralitos from santa fe. We experimented with alum to make our tissue paper fire retardant, finding that we were successful. and we experimented with a big flame cotton ball candle which gives off huge flame, maybe too much but we will not know until we play with the construction of the balloon. We still have not started the construction of the balloon but plan to on wednesday!

flying faralitos

http://vimeo.com/8557013

cyanotype to rayopraph: a window of history

The two posts below are about a scientific process. The first is a cyanotype by Anna Atkins a botinist in the 19th century. She used the cyanotype to record and observe nature. The second is a rayograph by a surrealist artist named Man Ray. The difference between the two falls more in the artistic and social realm then a scientific because the photographic process, though it has been enhanced and motified, remains fundamentally the same. The mid !9th century perception of the cyanotype was mainly, but not only, functional. The photosensitive paper and objects placed on the paper serverd an objective purpose, to record something. Where as the point of a rayograph to juxtapose objects creating visually stimulating compositions. It is easy to assume that the later would not be recieved as niether art nor science in Anna's decade. Whereas I have viewed Anna's work in many art history and photo history classes, placing her in the genre of artist's because although her work was not meant as art it is still aesthetically and visually appealing. So this shows a change over time in the artistic and societal realms slowly accpeting this science based art form into popular imagery.

rayograph

cyanotype

how to make cyanotypes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDOtUUhQ6Tk&feature=related

candel

round
solid at room temperature
cylindrical cone
wick with 90 degree angle coming out:1/8 of an inch, from bend: 1/4 inch
curvy
angular
1.25''lx1.5''
green/white
wick is black
smooth
hard
breakable
metal on bottom (not centered)
possible came from China
dented top edge
opaque with some light coming through thin edges
its dry
contains crack
used
sweet and soapy smell
botton is flat
it stands
weighs less than a lb.