Exploring Astronomy and Astrophysics With Universe Sandbox (Ages 7-12)

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢.

The cosmos, while vast, is controlled by universal physical laws that are used to make predictions and better understand the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of astrophysics. In this self-paced class, students will use a simulation program called Universe Sandbox where they will be introduced to a new astrophysical concept each week. 

This class is intended for the intermediate to advanced astronomy student, and the Universe Sandbox program is needed. Students should also familiarize themselves with the basic controls of Universe Sandbox before class through the provided introductory video found here: https://bit.ly/3H3Wpfs

I also recommend logging into the Outschool classroom on a separate device than what the student will use for Universe Sandbox. It's an amazing program and because of that, it can take up a lot of a computer's processing power. It can also make it difficult to see the shared screen and your computer.

**Universe Sandbox can be purchased here: http://universesandbox.com/buy/

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆:

✨Each week, a series of videos will be posted for the student to follow along with and will consist of step-by-step instructions on building new simulations, formulating hypotheses, testing the hypotheses, and applying astrophysics. (See the topic list below.)

✨The students will also be given a corresponding handout and regular assignments to do within Universe Sandbox.

𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔:
(See the 'Syllabus' section for a more detailed outline)

💥 Unit 1: Explore the Solar System
Our Solar System is vast and is made up of an amazing assortment of planets! In this class, we will explore the Solar System and learn about how astronomers use density to determine a planet's properties.

💥 Unit 2: Collisions and Tidal Forces
What would happen if the Moon orbited too close to the Earth? How were Saturn’s rings formed? In this class, students will gain a deeper understanding for these physical properties and how they work.

💥 Unit 3: Gravity and Orbits (Part 1)
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion play a vital role in our understanding of our Solar System. We will use this knowledge to simulation orbits with our Solar System and then apply it to exoplanetary systems.

💥 Unit 4: Gravity and Orbits (Part 2)
From planetary motion to rocket science, gravity is an important concept in our Universe. In this class, students will investigate how gravity influences objects all around us.

💥 Unit 5: Celestial Mechanics
The Universe is bound by physical laws that astronomers use to describe how things work and make accurate predictions. In this class, we will investigate different simulations and apply some of these laws.