Hi everyone,
based on the idea of how to "detect" exoplanets with the pocket lab, which Roland described above, we are currently working on an article with different (DIY) setups and teaching materials for student experiments on the transit method (at school).
We basically started with the optical stopwatch experiment and based on the maximum/minimum illuminance we calculate the transit depth.
The optical stopwatch itself can easily be used to determine the transit time and the duration of a year. This can be achieved by first measuring the illuminance of the "star" and then setting the lower threshold to slightly less than the illuminance of the "star" so that the stopwatch starts and ends according to the eclipse.
So far the results are quite good. We are currently working on a function to calculate the "planet" radius based on a given "star" radius, using the transit depth from above, the given radius of the "star" and the Stefan-Boltzmann law. Since the proportions in our lab situation are quite different from those in space, this does not (and might never) give us any useful results.
Of course we work with strong idealizations and the students get to know the transit method on a qualitative rather than on a quantitative level. However, the phyphox experiment is suitable to explain the basic principle of the transit method and to give an outlook on what information can be derived from it.
Attached the work-in-progresss for Smartphone or SensorTag use. As soon as I can get back to the lab, I will provide some images and curves!
PS: the experiment is currently labeled to match our student lab, so that students can find it faster and find their way around the teaching materials more easily. Feel free to adapt it to your needs! I also will provide the teaching materials, as soon as we are finished.
based on the idea of how to "detect" exoplanets with the pocket lab, which Roland described above, we are currently working on an article with different (DIY) setups and teaching materials for student experiments on the transit method (at school).
We basically started with the optical stopwatch experiment and based on the maximum/minimum illuminance we calculate the transit depth.
The optical stopwatch itself can easily be used to determine the transit time and the duration of a year. This can be achieved by first measuring the illuminance of the "star" and then setting the lower threshold to slightly less than the illuminance of the "star" so that the stopwatch starts and ends according to the eclipse.
So far the results are quite good. We are currently working on a function to calculate the "planet" radius based on a given "star" radius, using the transit depth from above, the given radius of the "star" and the Stefan-Boltzmann law. Since the proportions in our lab situation are quite different from those in space, this does not (and might never) give us any useful results.
Of course we work with strong idealizations and the students get to know the transit method on a qualitative rather than on a quantitative level. However, the phyphox experiment is suitable to explain the basic principle of the transit method and to give an outlook on what information can be derived from it.
Attached the work-in-progresss for Smartphone or SensorTag use. As soon as I can get back to the lab, I will provide some images and curves!
PS: the experiment is currently labeled to match our student lab, so that students can find it faster and find their way around the teaching materials more easily. Feel free to adapt it to your needs! I also will provide the teaching materials, as soon as we are finished.