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1°)       What is approximately the distance between Earth and Sun ?
             149 000 000 km.  Ok = 1,5%
2°)       What is approximately the distance between Earth and Moon ?

384 000 km. Ok = 7,5%

3°)       How old are approximately Sun and the solar system ?
            5 000 000 000 years.   Ok = 9%
4°)       Give the names of the 8 planets of the solar system (from the
             closest to Sun to the  farthest) :    Mercury, Venus, Earth,
              Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
             Excellent = 6% ; Ok = 18%
5°)       What is the difference between a star and a planet ?   A star
            produces the light it emits. A planet only reflects the light it
            receives. Ok = 7,5%
6°)       Give the names of 3 stars : Sun, Polaris, Sirius, Vega, Capella,
            Rigel, Betelgeuse, Antares, Spica, Aldebaran, Regulus...
         3 stars = 22,5% ; 2 stars = 10,5% ; 1 star = 24%
7°)       Which stars are the warmest ?
            Blue stars. Ok = 13,5%

8°)      Ok = 1,5%
9°)       What is a light-year ? This is the distance covered by the light
            in one year (» 9 600 000 000 000 km). Ok = 7,5%
10°)       Ok = 3%
11°)       What is a galaxy ? This is a gathering of billions of stars :
              they start their life in diffuse nebulae inside the galaxy.
              Ok = 18%
12°)       What is the Milky Way ?  This is what we see from our galaxy.
             Ok = 13,5%
13°)     What is a diffuse nebula ? This is a sort of huge cloud, made of
            dust, gas and plasma, where stars begin their life.  Ok = 9%
14°)     What is a globular cluster ? This is a gathering of generally old
            stars, around the halo of the Galaxy. Ok = 4,5%
15°)     What is a constellation ? This is an area of the celestial sphere.
            Ok = 6%
16°)     Give the name of 3 constellations : The Great Bear (Ursa
           Major) , the Little Bear (Ursa Minor) , Cassiopeia, ...
            3 names = 9% ; 2 names = 19,5% ; 1 name = 12%
17°)     What is the ecliptic ?  This is the path of the Earth around the
            Sun. This is also the apparent path of the Sun in the sky
             throughout the year. Ok = 0 !
18°)     What is the zenith ?    This is the point situated over our head.
            Ok = 6%

19°)     Ok = 3%
20°)     What is the north celestial pole ? This is the point of the
            celestial   sphere which is at the zenith when we are at the
            north geographical pole. Ok = 1,5%
21°)     Who was Phaëton in the Greek mythology ?    He was the son of
           Helios, the sun god. Ok = 9%
22°)     Who was Mercury in the Roman mythology ?   He was god of
            traders and travellers. He was also the messenger of Jupiter.
            Ok = 3%

23°)     Give the name of an ancient Greek astronomer and write what he
            did for astronomy.
            Eratosthenes (284-192 BC) estimated Earth circumference.
           Aristarchus (310-230 BC) formulated a heliocentric ypothesis.
           Hipparchus (»170-»120 BC) compiled a stars catalogue
           Ptolemy (»100-»170 AD) described the geocentric theory
           Only 1 answer !
24°)     What Polish 16th century astronomer said that Earth turns around
            the Sun ? Nicolas Copernic (1473- 1543). Ok = 0 !
25°)     What Italian astronomer looked at Jupiter with a refracting
             telescope in 1610 ? Galileo Galilei (1564-1642). Ok = 0 !
26°)     What English 17th & 18th centuries astronomer stated universal
            gravitation law ? Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Ok = 0 !
27°)     Indicate a contribution of Albert Einstein (1879-1955) to
            astronomy. The general theory of relativity; Ok = 3%
28°)     Who was the first man who walked on the Moon ? When did he?

            Neil Armstrong (July 21st 1969)
            Ok = 52,5% !!! but only 9% with the date.
            Other  answers : Lance Armstrong, Louis Armstrong &
            Tintin...

29°)     What 20th century astronomer gave his name to a telescope put
             into orbit around the Earth ? Edwin Hubble (1889-1953). Ok = 0 !
30°)     What French writer wrote « De la Terre à la Lune » [« From
            Earth to Moon »]  ? Jules Verne (1828-1905). Ok = 24%

Admin · 242 views · 13 comments

18 Dec 2007

Project Meeting in Birmingham

The first project meeting took place in Birmingham from 8th to 15 th of December. During the week, the french and swedish pupils, accomodated in british families, went to Smith's Wood Sports College and followed the lessons with their english friends.
All together we worked on the project, and built a very accurate schedule for the following months.

Once again, many thanks to our english hosts, who did a great job !

Admin · 1232 views · 40 comments

17 Dec 2007

The trip to Birmingham City

The trip to Birmingham City was especially exciting..... The boys took the chance to climb the bull! We hope they will get the chance to come again or to tell their friends about it!

margaret · 337 views · 12 comments

17 Dec 2007

Being in Britain

This was the night our French teachers and students arrived. Parents Mr Hill and Mrs Robinson joined us in making them feel welcome.

Smith's Wood Sports College was buzzing with excitement during the week of December 10-14, 2007. The reason for the buzz was that we had our French and Swedish friends in the Comenius programme Phaeton visiting with us. It was a lovely week full of exciting, new, and sometimes nervous moments.

You will be seeing some of the moments captured on film!
Come back often, and have a look.

margaret · 346 views · 12 comments

16 Dec 2007

Using a scolarscope

A scolarscope is a box aimed at looking at the Sun without danger for the eyes.
The main parts are :
* a side with a white screen inside ;
* a tube through this side and containing a lens ;
* a bulging mirror in the box on the side in front of the tube.

In order to point at the sun :
1° out of the box : you make the shadow of the tube become as small as possible ;
2° then in the box : you make the light spot go on the mirror and be reflected on the screen, beside the tube.

In order to focus the picture, you have to :
1° check the length of the tube out of the box ;
2° turn the screw behind the mirror.

It is possible to estimate the apparent diameter (D) of the Sun :
1° you point at the Sun and draw the picture on the screen ;
2° you keep the picture in the drawing ;
3° you let the picture go out of the drawing and you measure the time (T) until the picture is entirely out of the drawing.
4° you calculate : D = 360° x cos(declination of the Sun) x T / 24 h
[“three hundred and sixty degrees multiplied by the cosine of the declination of the Sun multiplied by T divided by twenty four hours”]
For example, on the 9th of November 2007 :
* the declination of the Sun was -16,8° [minus sixteen point eight degrees]
* the time was : T = 2 minutes and 10 seconds = 130 s.
* the apparent diameter was : D = 345° x 130 s / 86 400 s = 0,52° (approximately)
Explanation :We can consider that :
* we are at the summit of a cone ;
* the Sun moves along the edge of the base of the cone ; it covers one turn in 24 h ;
* the angle at the summit of the cone is 180° - 2 x the declination of the Sun ;
* the angle at the centre of the pattern of the cone is 360° x cos(declination of the Sun)

Admin · 368 views · 26 comments

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