Assignment task:
PART ONE: SUNSPOTS AND THE SUN'S ROTATION
Attached you will find a page that contains sketches of the Sun as observed from March 3, 1947 to April 13, 1947. Each sketch shows the Sun and the positions of sunspots as viewed on that day. Scan through the sketches in the order of the dates the observations were made. Pay close attention to the relative positions of the sunspots groups from day to day. Return to this page and answer the following questions.
1. Look at the largest sunspot group. Describe what happened to this group from day to day and what this observation might indicate about the Sun.
2. Notice the location of the largest sunspot group on March 5th. After how many days will it again be observed in that position?
3. Astronomers around the world keep a daily record of the number of sunspots visible on the Sun. What is the sunspot count on March 9th?
4. What is the sunspot count on April 6th?
PART TWO: SUNSPOT NUMBER AND THE SOLAR CYCLE
Attached you will find a page with a table containing data on the relative number of sunspots as recorded every year during the 19th century. Plot this data on a sheet of graph paper (you can also use a spreadsheet to graph this information you want!). Let the horizontal axis on your graph represent the year and the vertical axis represent the relative sunspot number. Be sure to label your graph accordingly. Use the entire sheet of graph paper for your graph! When you are finished with your graph, return to this page and answer the following questions (Note - the graph counts for ½ the points for this assignment!)
1. From 1800 to 1899, what single year showed the greatest relative number of sunspots? What was that number?
2. What single year showed the least relative number of sunspots? What was that number?
3. From your graph, you should notice that the numbers of sunspots seem to periodically increase and decrease. What were the peak years for the relative number of sunspots?
4. What is the average number of years between these peaks? This is known as the sunspot cycle.