Astronomy

How Fast Are We Moving?

Exploring how fast we are moving in the Milky Way Galaxy

Equipment and preparation

Equipment: Internet access, a calculator, and the selected worksheet. No telescope is needed.
Before you start: Choose the basic, advanced, or physics version. Read the teacher notes and check the mathematics required by your selection.
Planning your time: Review the tasks before scheduling a class. A classroom duration has not been confirmed for this lesson.

This lesson is designed at three different levels. Each is mainly after the students being able to determine the speed of the Earth around the Sun.

Basic Version (view PDF) The basic version introduces the task directly. Students find some information online.

Advanced Version (view PDF) The advanced version asks students to reason through the problem before searching online. The outcome is the same.

Physics Version (view PDF) This version suits students familiar with universal gravitation and circular motion.

How Fast Are We Moving - Things to expect from students. Watch on YouTube.

This video discusses common difficulties experienced during this activity in the past.