{"id":4540,"date":"2020-09-29T09:11:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T08:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/?page_id=4540"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:58:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T14:58:09","slug":"venus-phosphine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/resources\/venus-phosphine\/","title":{"rendered":"Phosphine on Venus &#8211; Educational Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The detection of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus is one of the most significant discoveries in astronomy this decade. It is evidence that there may be life on Venus, through proof that the phosphine is created by biological processes is yet to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The materials are all available on <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1eTvIDNRrHzQHXZfoA2ZLy6akx5LJgYET?usp=sharing\">Google Drive<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Google Docs, Microsoft Word and PDF formats. Note that the Google Doc files are the most up-to-date.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teacher guides contain answers to the questions, and a few extra links.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>These resources are under constant development. Please send any comments using our <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/about-us\/contact-us\/#form\">Contact Form<\/a>, or email <a href=\"mailto:schools@astro.cf.ac.uk\">schools@astro.cf.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Available resources<\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 &#8211; Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Student materials: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1EGBfb-29cYqKRPFEjUccJ4uffwOLHS4fNgogP4VF_aY\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teacher Notes: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1LyIkUznQNMTsKgaKBO5FnOWjO_cgEQZzYTSK6d12Sm4\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Curriculum links<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Topical Science, Critical Analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A summary of the discovery and its implications, accompanied by quotes from the authors and links for further reading. This information would be useful as context for the further activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students could be asked to read the introduction and:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">summarise the result,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">debate the implications of the detection,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">write a story using quotes from the authors (in the style of a press release)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Answer some \u201ccomprehension\u201d questions about the discover<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Younger students may benefit from the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacescoop.org\/en\/scoops\/2036\/life-on-venus\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Space Scoop<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which is written for younger readers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 &#8211; Orbit of Venus<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Student activity: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1RkVRNhopUw_lC36g7ogOKo6A0zO3ju2PWSsK6nXMRp8\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teacher notes: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/12tgm4u93tMnmcl7E3siR03j0j1YFrIl4CuBrIldQGLk\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Orbit of Venus section<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Guideline ages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: advanced 11-14, 14-16 and 16-18.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curriculum links<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Geometry, Trigonometry, Orbits, Graph analysis, Digital literacy (optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An activity involving the orbit of Venus. The first section is basic geometry of orbits, involving some simple trigonometry (or possible a ruler, a pair of compasses, and a protractor!). Knowledge of planetary orbits is not required, though students may ask questions. This section includes data about the appearance of Venus as seen from Earth (distance, angle from the Sun, phase etc.). Students are asked to interpret the data from graphs, though there are links in the teacher guide to the data itself if you would like to include some digital literacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Analysing Venus Observations section<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Guideline ages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 14-16, 16-18<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curriculum links<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Resolution, Telescope<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students use their knowledge of telescopes to calculate and comment on the resolution of the observations<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3 &#8211; Atmosphere of Venus<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Student activity: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1KEhStMfYbNF6gwFfHZJXJ_vNzlsG_5fle3ufVEWLmJE\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teacher notes: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1D7nTl7eEmFnXA4JhVWBp6Y0QtMKcGbyioJ6khgmKjAE\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Planetary Atmospheres &amp; Surface Temperature<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Guideline ages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 11-14, 14-16, 16-18<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curriculum links<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Temperature and Pressure, Astronomy, Graph Plotting, Digital Literacy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students use an interactive web-app at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cosmos-book.github.io\/atmospheres\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/cosmos-book.github.io\/atmospheres\/index.html<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . The app works in any browser, and should work on mobile\/tablet devices<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They are asked to establish which parts of the Solar System are most like the Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students can then plot the average temperatures of the planets against their distance. Older students may be able to use logarithmic scales.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Modelling planetary temperatures<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Guideline ages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 16-18<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curriculum links<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Steffan Boltzmann Law, Graph Plotting, Digital Literacy (recommended)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students use their knowledge of the Steffan-Boltzmann law to model planetary temperatures and compare with the observed averages. The Steffan-Boltzmann Law equations are given, but the law is not derived or explained.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4 &#8211; Detection of Phosphine<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Student activity: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1JpxHgP6X9fOHYEOsVnJGxYLCdHvQaZrYJ4jdIqmjE4Y\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teacher notes: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1GCqp1GG5vAu-yTrf72KDynDyeahSFfKW0z8nvmvOnak\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Guideline ages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 14-16, 16-18<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curriculum links<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: EM spectrum, emission and absorption lines, Doppler shift<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students are provided with information about the detection of phosphine, such as the wavelengths it emits\/absorbs at. Students then use information about the speed of Venus, and the motions of the molecules in Venus\u2019 atmosphere, to explore the Doppler shift of the observations. Note that the Doppler shift is not explained as part of this activity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5 &#8211; Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Student Guide: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/18drm635AdjGrvqJbb1CHxiWLNUKcox2oxpAeNJx79cU\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teacher Guide: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1Zdzc9nmpeH59u8VOBwTZNVc6t5by4S_xO5wyDu8aCUs\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Doc<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Guideline ages:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 14-16 (advanced), 16-18<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Curriculum links:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Abundances, unit conversion, estimation, critical analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students are presented with information about phosphine and its possible origin. They are guided through calculations of the relative abundances, volumes and prediction rates, included conversion of units and analysis of the results. The numbers are adapted from the scientific papers that accompanied the discovery. This activity would be particularly suitable for those planning on writing an extended essay on the discovery.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>Panel Discussion<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Video: <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/70GTkxZkoqI?t=455\">YouTube<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A panel discussion featuring four researchers involved in the observation of phosphine on Venus answering teachers&#8217; questions. This session was recorded as part of the IOP Welsh Physics Teachers Conference, October 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The detection of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus is one of the most significant discoveries in astronomy this decade. It is evidence that there may be life on Venus, through proof that the phosphine is created by biological processes is yet to come. The materials are all available on Google Drive in Google Docs,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":273,"featured_media":4511,"parent":164,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4540","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4hmOz-1be","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/273"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4540"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4629,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4540\/revisions\/4629"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/physicsoutreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}