Gravity: Making Waves
Educator Resources for "Gravity: Making Waves"
For general information about using Science Bulletins in your classroom, refer to the Science Bulletins Educator's Guide.Exploring In-Depth
Advanced technology such as that at the LIGO facility, is allowing scientists to observe and measure phenomena previously invisible to science. What can these new data tell us?
- What are gravitational waves?
- What have scientists theorized so far about gravitational waves?
- Why is learning about gravitational waves important?
- How do scientists hope to measure gravitational waves?
- How is the study of gravitational waves helping scientists to understand the forces that shape our universe?
The gravity studies at LIGO are an example of how scientific understanding is dynamic and always changing. Examine the work of Newton and Einstein, and learn how scientists must build upon and extend the work of those that came before them.
- What had Newton theorized about, but was unable to prove or provide data for?
- How did Einstein refine and further explain theories that Newton could only hypothesize about?
- How does this demonstrate the dynamic nature of scientific understanding?
Related Links
- NASA Puts Einstein to the Test
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/science/gpb_tests.html
LIGO isn’t the only project searching for answers about gravity. See how scientists are using the satellite, Gravity Probe B, to learn about the gravity waves around our planet. - Amazing GRACE
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/f_grace.html
How does gravity affect our atmosphere? NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) project is seeking to collect information abouton the impact of Earth’s gravity about our climate systems. - Laser Interferometer Space Antenna: Education
http://lisa.jpl.nasa.gov/education.html
Explore the topic of gravity with your students through articles, games, and a science bowl quiz. - Ask a High-Energy Astronomer: Relativity
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/relativity.html
This page features answers to commonly asked questions about space-time, gravity, and relativity.
