You are a scientist working for NASA and your team has evidence that the Sun's gravitational field is decreasing. Prepare a letter to the United Nations which outlines what would happen if the Earth deviated from its orbit around the Sun.
Students are to use what they know about the importance of the Sun to life on Earth to make a prediction about what might happen if the Sun's gravitational pull was no longer strong enough to hold the Earth in its orbit. Students must also think about what other objects found in space would impact the Earth. By using a hypothetical scenario like this, students need to use their own knowledge to reach a conclusion instead of finding the answers elsewhere. Alternatively, have the students write a letter outlining what the implications of a meteor strike which throws enough dust into the atmosphere to block out the sun. This would also require the students to think about the important role the Sun plays and how other objects in the solar system could affect Earth.
Evaluate Artefact: Click on the link to the left to see an example of a letter to the UN explaining what we could expect should the Earth leave its orbit around the Sun.
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Note To Teachers
Because this is an almost impossible scenario, there is no right or wrong answer. What you are looking for is the students understanding of how the Sun affects life on Earth and what might happen to Earth if it ever stopped orbiting the sun. Most students responses will be based on what we would do without the heat of the sun and what would happen to the planet when it drifts off course. Also look for students understandings of the other objects, such as planets and moons, that are found in our solar system that might impact the Earth if it were to go off course.
Because this is an almost impossible scenario, there is no right or wrong answer. What you are looking for is the students understanding of how the Sun affects life on Earth and what might happen to Earth if it ever stopped orbiting the sun. Most students responses will be based on what we would do without the heat of the sun and what would happen to the planet when it drifts off course. Also look for students understandings of the other objects, such as planets and moons, that are found in our solar system that might impact the Earth if it were to go off course.