The Green Flash

While watching “Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End” a phenomenon that was described in the movie caught my interest.  It was the “green flash” at sunset.  It was beautifully done and unusual so I thought I would find out more about it, and then I thought it would be a lot of fun to share with you! 

Green Flash from “Pirates of the Caribbean”

http://pirates.wikia.com/wiki/Green_flash



In the movie the Green Flash had a meaning for the pirates. In a conversation between Hector Barbossa, Joshamee Gibbs, and Pintel to Will Turner, the pirates claim a supernatural cause for the flash.

 "Ever gazed upon the green flash, Master Gibbs?"
"I reckon I've seen my fair share. Happens on rare occasion; the last glimpse of sunset, a green flash shoots up into the sky. Some go their whole lives without ever seeing it. Some claim to have seen it who ain't. And some say—"
"It signals when a soul comes back to this world, from the dead!"

Very spooky indeed!

            In my reading however, I haven’t been able to find any proof for the supernatural, but instead have found a lot of evidence for a scientific explanation.  If you have ever played with a prism you know that sunlight is actually made of many different colors.  Just like in a rainbow one of those colors is green.  Now for the tricky part!  The image of the sunset that you see on the horizon has already occurred, the sun has set already and you are seeing it from below the horizon! You can see this phenomenon because our atmosphere has different densities, and it becomes denser the closer to the ground because all the weight of the air above it presses down.  This density difference causes the different colors of light to behave in different ways than normal.

            As you watch a sunset, the colors disappear one by one.  Red goes first, orange, yellow, green, blue, and finally violet turns to black.  The suns blue color is scattered more than any other color into the atmosphere so we have a blue sky as the red and orange disappear.  The amazing part happens now; as the yellow disk of the sun disappears beneath the horizon its color mixes with the blue to form a green after-image of the sun.  This green flash only lasts for 1 – 2 seconds so to see it we have to be ready for it.

            Would you like to see a Green Flash for yourself?  You really do not have to be at the beach to see one, but that is generally the best location for viewing.  Also of great importance is to never look at the bright sun directly, wait until it is almost below the horizon.  The air must be very clear for viewing, so an evening when a cold front has passed or is passing is ideal.  Next, to see below the horizon you have to be above it. So our best chance to see a green flash in this area is from a mountaintop looking westward and down.  A little magnification is helpful for viewing also, something like a pair of binoculars, but is not necessary.  Also, an idea of what we are actually looking for would be useful as the real Green Flashes are not like the movie ones.  They are much smaller and more difficult to see. This is a good example of what a more realistic flash might look like.



Photo by: Mila Zinkova

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Big_green_flash.JPG





See!  Real science can be found everywhere, even in the movies.  You never know where you might run across something that may interest you so be sure you keep your Science Notebook handy!

The American Beaver WebQuest

(Photo/Steve in Washington D.C., Wikipedia)

naturefil...press.com/201002/04/for-endan...t-friends/

The  Beaver is an animal who works hard every day to change his environment to his needs.  He has a long history and had a finned foot in the formation of Canada and the United States.  This WebQuest looks at the life of the Beaver.  So get your Science Notebook and let's go find out about the animal engineer, the beaver.
http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrackMembersFrames.do?org.apache.struts.taglib.html.TOKEN=368392190bd14fbc5a8d798f3f07f15a&number=423338&password=

The Scientific Method

“I think that we shall have to get accustomed to the idea that we must not look upon science as a 'body of knowledge', but rather as a system of hypotheses; that is to say, as a system of guesses or anticipations which in principle cannot be justified, but with which we work as long as they stand up to tests, and of which we are never justified in saying that we know they are 'true' or 'more or less certain' or even 'probable'.“

— Karl Raimund Popper

The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1959), 317.

Scientific method

Recently a question about gravity was posed on our Wiki site, and since I did not know what the answer to the question was, I thought that this would be a good time to do some research together.  To put us on the right track toward our answer we are going to look at the method that scientists use to answer questions about the universe around us.  That method is called the scientific method and it consists of 7 discrete steps on the way to an answer.  The definition of scientific method from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary is:  “the principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.” The 7 steps of scientific method are: ask a question, do background research, construct a hypothesis, test your hypothesis by doing an experiment, analyze your data and draw a conclusion, and finally, communicate your results.  So in order for us to find an answer our question we need to follow the steps just like a scientist would do.

            The very first step is to ask a question which has already been done.  Excellent job!  The question that was asked is:  “If we were able to drill a hole right through the Earth and then jumped into the hole, would we begin to slow down as we reached the center of the Earth since the mass "above" us would equal the mass "below" and would cancel out gravity? “  So just to rephrase the question a bit: Does the force of gravity decrease as an object nears the center of our planet?  

            Now that we have the question identified it is time to begin researching the question using all sorts of journals, textbooks, magazines and web sites.  The goal is to become as knowledgeable on the subject as it is possible to become.  I think you are beginning to notice that answering these questions can take a lot of time aren’t you?  As we read we will take written notes, (in our Science Notebooks of course!) about what we read and where we read it so that we can refer back to the article in the future.  The more research we do, the more knowledgeable we will become on our question.

            The next step is to construct a hypothesis.  A hypothesis is an educated guess about the answer to our original question.  We are able to make that guess because of all the research that we did that made us experts on the subject matter.  The hypothesis is usually written in a specific form "If _____ [I do this] _____, then _____ [this] _____ will happen."  Another requirement for a hypothesis is that it should be something that you can actually test.  Those tests are important because we need to measure both "what you do" and "what will happen."   

            Now that we have done all of this work and we have our hypothesis that has been so carefully crafted all we need to do is answer the question, right?  We still have a few more steps to go yet!  Now we need to actually test our hypothesis in an experiment that we design.  A good experiment has some characteristics that are important to our science discoveries, they need to be narrowly focused (only one Independent Variable…you can look it up for extra credit!), repeatable, and able to be measured.  Once we have designed our experiment and ran it once, we need to repeat it at least twice more in order to verify the results. Once we have collected all the data from our experiments, then we can begin the next step of the scientific process and that is to analyze the data that we have gathered.

“It is a common failing–and one that I have myself suffered from–to fall in love with a hypothesis and to be unwilling to take no for an answer. A love affair with a pet hypothesis can waste years of precious time. There is very often no finally decisive yes, though quite often there can be a decisive no.”

— Sir Peter B. Medawar

Advice to a Young Scientist (1979), 73.

            All that data from all of those elegant experiments we designed and conducted and now we come to the really fun part of our process, we can, at last, draw a conclusion from all of our work.  Sometimes it might be an answer we expected and one that proves our hypothesis, but equally important the answer might prove our hypothesis wrong.  How could that be good you might ask?  Even if our hypothesis is proven wrong we have a “real” scientifically tested, answer that we can build our inquiries off of when we go back to the earlier stages of the process to begin to build a new hypothesis.  This cycle of design and test is the basis of all scientific method and the key to our inquiries of the universe.

            Finally we have an answer to our question and we know the truth.  The answer has been tested and repeated and the experiments have even been done at other labs.  The final stage in the scientific method is to share our results with science.  Real scientists do this all the time when they publish their scholarly work in prestigious scientific journals.  We can publish also thanks to the Internet!  There are all sorts of Websites devoted to science and once we have our answer we can post our results for everyone to read…and yes, to question, because that is the true nature of science, to study, to learn and to teach.

 

 

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_scientific_method.shtml

http://www.todayinsci.com/QuotationsCategories/H_Cat/Hypothesis-Quotations.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scientific%2Bmethod

A new WebQuest based on the Book and Movie HOLES

As a project for one of my classes I designed a WebQuest based on the book and movie Holes.  In this quest we look at how animals adapt and survive in a harsh and unforgiving desert environment.  So if you would like to learn a bit about desert animals, or you are a fan of the book and want to see if there really are Yellow-Spotted lizards, grab your science notebook and let's head West!

http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrackMembersFrames.do?org.apache.struts.taglib.html.TOKEN=5043177039e1003e5992a08a4b9b577e&number=422894&password=

New WebQuest about Animals in Tennessee

Would you like to find out about some of Tennessee's animals?  Well I have built a quest for us to do together online so that we can learn a bit more! For example, did you know that the opossum lived at the same time as dinosaurs?  I am sure they were very nervous!  So click on the link and get started with learning about Tennessee wild animals, just be sure to have your Science Notebook with you!
Link to the WebQuest :
http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=422689

Would you like to find out more?
You can visit the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency online at : 
http://www.state.tn.us/twra/infoed.html

A New Web Tool

I am posting this link to a Wiki that I just started so that we can share our discoveries and ask our questions in a more casual setting.  Feel free to go anytime and help to build a new resource we can share.  If you have never used a Wiki before don't worry because it is really simple.  All you have to do is to find a discussion that you want to join in and then click on the edit button.  When you are finished, hit the save button and you have made your first post!  If you want to start a new discussion topic, press that button and type your ideas into the text box.  Simple!

https://mrandersonssciencenotebookwiki.wikispaces.com/

Join me and let's add some new ideas into our Science Notebooks!

Want to Make a Real Science Contribution?

Would you like to have the chance to do some "real" science and even have the chance to get your research published?  Do I have an opportunity for you!  I found out about an outstanding program conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology called Bird Sleuth.  According to their website "students engage in authentic inquiry through citizen science and their own science investigations! They carefully observe birds, ask and answer their own questions based on observations and data, and publish their original research. BirdSleuth kids also use technology and real data: the Internet makes it easy to send and receive data that helps scientists to better understand birds. Plus, kids everywhere can enjoy and benefit from the physical and cognitive benefits of time spent outdoors in nature!"

All that aside it sounds like a lot of fun and a really good way to get outside and enjoy nature.  It is also a fantastic way to learn about doing real science: from "observing birds carefully, collecting data, asking their own questions, drawing conclusions through research and observation, and publishing results."  Yes, publishing results is also an important part of doing science and that is how our knowledge and experience is shared. "Each fall the Lab publishes the national edition of our student research journal, Classroom BirdScope, along with a twice-annual supplement called BirdSleuth Reports, which both feature student research and creative work—that’s real science by real kids!"

So let's link to:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdsleuth/about/what-is-birdsleuth?utm_source=aab&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=CrossPromoteAAB_BS_20100201
Where we can find out how we can contribute to some real science!  That way we can keep our eyes open and add our observations to our own Science Notebook!

The Tennessee Child's Outdoor Bill of Rights

I learned of this today and thought that it would be of interest to my readers.  Every child in Tennessee should read this Outdoor Bill of Rights and then hold the adults in their lives responsible for helping them to achieve them.

"TCOBOR is a list of experiences from which every child in Tennessee would benefit.
Studies document that children who engage in these activities are healthier, perform better in school, have better social skills and self-image, and lead more fulfilled lives."

The Tennessee Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights states that Tennessee every child, before entering high school, should have the opportunity to:

Walk in the woods

Play outside

Explore nature

Watch wildlife

Grow a garden

Splash in the water

Camp under the stars

Learn to swim

Climb a tree

Go fishing

Fly a kite

Visit a farm

These rights are very important to everyone and parents and children alike would benefit from pursuing them.  I can't think of a better way to get outdoors and it even gives you a chance to keep your eyes open and add to your own Science Notebook.

Backyard Birding, The Kestrel Chronicles

I want to share with you what I learned about a bird that I had the chance to study today.  As the weather was so wonderful today I had the opportunity to get out and walk a bit and I think that all the wildlife were just as appreciative as I of the break in the cold weather.  I have often observed this small bird, the American kestrel (Falco sparverius) from a distance but have never seen it up close.  Today one ventured into the yard and perched on the electrical wire, likely in search of an easy meal, and with my binoculars in hand I spied on him from around the corner of the house.  It was a male I found out later as I researched the little fellow because he lacked the distinctive reddish stripes on his belly like that of the females.

He was a tiny fellow, just a bit bigger than my fist, but he had the look of a predator.  His talons were sharp and so was his beak.  His eyes were everywhere and nothing was missed by his gaze.  The colors of his feathers were beautiful with russet reds, light cream, and black and grays blended with the white accents.  The two black streaks on his face his “mustache” and are one of the identification markings that can identify him for birdwatchers. I could see how he would be able to blend into the surroundings and go for his prey before they knew he was around. When he finally took flight with a little hop off the wire and then into a shallow dive, I felt a pang of loss, but I was happy that I had the chance to watch him for a bit.

When he was gone I went inside and did some research on kestrels and on “my” kestrel in particular.  According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) the American Kestrel is “the smallest, most colorful, and most widespread North American falcon.” It likes to live in open areas like cropland or pastures where it is easier to spot their prey.  They like to eat large insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even other birds. One thing that I found interesting is the kestrel’s ability to sometimes hover several feet above the ground while hunting.

Next I went onto the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web-site for even more information.  One of the best tools that I found right off the bat was a recording of his voice sounds.  I also found out that the American Kestrel goes north into Alaska, Canada and a few of the northern states to breed each summer.  One nasty little habit that I found out that I really wish I hadn’t was that the nestling kestrel spray their feces on the walls of their nest so that they don’t get it on their feathers.  I cannot imagine that helps the smell of their nest in any way and I am sure that the nestlings are more than happy to leave the nest when they are big enough to fly.

Question to ponder….Do birds have a sense of smell? How sensitive is it?

So today I am happy!  I saw “my” kestrel and found out some neat information about him and was able to share it with you also.  That makes it a fantastic day!  Keep your eyes open around you and see what you can find to add to your own Science Notebook.

Tennessee’s Watchable Wildlife http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/details.cfm?displayhabitat=grassland&sort=aounumber&typename=GRASSLAND%20AND%20SHRUB&uid=09042417525167611&commonname=American%20Kestrel

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/id

Welcome to My Notebook

Hello everyone and welcome to my brand new Blog site!  It is a pleasure to have you visit and I do hope that you will return often.  This Blog will be an ongoing effort to share with you, my readers, scientific discoveries that I have found interesting and a forum that will let us discuss and probe those discoveries to find out what they mean to us.  You will also find my musings on different topics that are of interest to me, for instance, the life cycle of a bird that I see at my feeder, or an unusual rock formation that I see in my travels. 
It's going to be fun and educational so hang on and let's dive into some Science!