[school-discuss] solar system series at gutenberg and open source schools

[Mike Eschman <meschman@etc-edu.com>]

hello,

three body problems are not insoluble, in terms of locating the third
body from perbutations in the expected positions of two bodies orbiting
an object of known mass.  It is quite possible to plot the mass and
orbit of third objects this way, that is the most ubiquitous computation
in astronomy.

this is solvable using trigonometric functions (without resorting to
   calculus) with results tolerable to support an unaided eye viewing
program.

spectrography gives a basis for studying the oscultation and transit
"limbs" that might be apparent during a viewable event.  and deriving a
chemical composition from same.

using 19th century gas pressure chemical laws, an image of a planetary
   surface and atmosphere, complete with seasons, storms and atmospheric
   currents, you have enough data to render the Solar System in 3D and in
   motion, as it might appear to a visitor.

that is precisely what the NASA exploration program has done, as
explained in the companion "Encyclopedia of the Solar System".

so try to think more like an experimenter ...

we are going to provide "games" for forming solar systems, planets,
comets, asteroid belts and so on from assumptions about an initial
"explosive event" a constrained volume and a given distribution of
magnetic foci.

within that environment, know chemical compositions the student and
teacher provide make planetary bodies (or not) according to the dictates
of ordinary gas-pressure-temperature laws.

"successful" planets develop atmospheres that can be studied.

For this select group of created planetary bodies, the seasons are of
interest.

we're creating a 3D lab to build solar systems in using
gas-pressure-temperature laws and spectography with studing maps and
pictures.

this is an alternative way to teach chemistry without a traditional lab.

mike eschman, etc ...
http://www.etc-edu.com
"Not just an afterthought ...

mike eschman, etc ...
http://www.etc-edu.com
"Not just an afterthought ...

On Friday 13 June 2003 11:13, you wrote:
> Mike,
>
> Bear with me, my astronomy is about 15 years rusty, but I seem to remember
> that three body problems were insoluable...how are you overcoming this?
> Does it have to do with Newtonian approximations?
>
> Brett
>
> On Fri, 13 Jun 2003 11:18:24 -0500, Mike Eschman <meschman@etc-edu.com>

wrote:
> > Build your own model of the Solar System in 3D with free software : an
> > adjunct to the Open Source Schools Solar System Series.
> >
> > Imagine a volume in which a mass is propelled in a manner that ensures
> > some presupposed distribution of matter by state, including solid, icy,
> > liquid, aerosol, gas and escape/exchange layer.
> >
> > Allow bodies to form according to the gravitational constant. Reduce that
> > gravitational constant to a series of magnetic foci that accumulate
> > material that is flowing by.
> >
> > Apply gas - pressure -temperature laws to this model.
> >
> > use occultations and transits to determine chemical composition. (by
> > visual observation)
> >
> > make subjective comparisons between similar sized bodies.
> >
> > use the aerosols to model atmospheric currents.
> >
> > study the photography.
> >
> > that's what this book is all about.
> >
> > this will both engage students and teachers, and produce students who can
> > think and perform well on standardized testing.
> >
> > It's time to try something like this.
> >
> > We are completing software to build 3D models of the Solar System using
> > the Gravitational Effects, Mass and Gas-Pressure a Temperature laws, with
> > Kepler's 3 laws.
> >
> > Using the tool mass distributions can be placed, allowed to form and so
> > on, in exploring alternative pasts, and for demonstrating aspplication of
> > these fundamental laws.
> >
> > Camera controls allow complete freedom of movement, and possess a
> > "record" button for making 2D movies from flight paths in the 3D
> > environment.
> >
> > We feel this is the ultimate companion to the notes and web sites in the
> > Solar System set.
> >
> > We use VTK for 3D rendering.
> >
> > Any interest in doing this at your site next school year?

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