Physics and Astronomy Demonstration Resources

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        Physics Exploration Center ( PEC) Experiment List

Astronomy Video Tapes

( Note: Decriptions of videos taken from cover of video, retailer, or producer of video.)

N.A.S.A. Tapes

1. .... Mercury: Exploration of a planet: Journey of Mariner 10 to Venus and Mercury. 24 minutes.

2. .... Earth-Sun Relationship: 7 minutes and our Solar System: 6 minutes. Catchy animated films about our solar system.

3. .... Moon: An Emerging Planet: History of the Moon. Award Winner. 12 minuets.

4. .... Planet Mars: Exploration of Mars from telescopes to Viking Robot Lander. 29 minutes

5. .... View of the Sky: Explores theories of the origin of the Solar System from Copernicus to modern space exploration. Award Winner. 28 minutes.

6. .... I Will See Such Things: History of the investigation of Uranus 29 minutes.

7. .... Jupiter Odyssey: Journey of Pioneer 10 to Jupiter. 28 minutes.

8. .... Galileo Mission to Jupiter: Portrays journey of Galileo. 6 minutes and U.S. Space Station: uses computer graphics to present scenario of proposed space station. 13 minutes.

9. .... View of the Sky: Explores theories of the origin of the Solar System from Copernicus to modern space exploration . Award Winner. 28 minutes.

10. .... Who's Out There: Orson Welles is the host and star of this extraordinary film. Award Winner. 28 minutes.

11. .... HEAO: The New Universe: High Energy Astronomy Observatory Program. 20 Minutes.

12. .... Universe: This information-packed NASA film takes you on a journey to the farthest reaches of the Universe. Starting with an in-depth look at our own Solar System and all of its planets, you will travel ever outward through the Milky Way Galaxy into the vast islands of stars beyond. Includes the evolution of the unive rse from one primordial mass, discusses the tremendous forces at work shaping the universe ( stars, galaxies,pulsars,Quasars, black holes,...) , finishes with a close-up look at our own Sun. Narrated by William Shatner. 30 minutes.

The Astronomers Series

(Descriptions taken from video cover)

(Host Richard Chamberlain)

13. .... Where is the Rest of the Universe?

Astronomers believe the universe contains at least ten times as much mass as can be seen and accounted for. How they are able to detect this missing mass and to discover more about it are the subjects of this episode. Astronomers Vera Rubin and Tony Tyson describe their search for dark matter,material invisible to us but whose gravity affects the motion of the stars and can alter the light reaching us from distant galaxies. In addition, meet John Dobson, self-proclaimed "side-walk" astronomer.

14. .... Searching for Black Holes.

At the center of the Galaxy NGC 1275 - some 200 million light years from earth - there might be a supermassive black hole, one of the most intriguing objects in the universe. In an attempt to map the galaxy and look deep into its heart, John Conway links an international team of astronomers and radio telescopes throughout Europe and America. This linkage- in effect a telescope 6,000 miles in diameter - produces and excellent picture of NGC 1275. Also meet Jessie Greenstein, the co-discoverer of quasars, the most powerful know objects in the universe, and Italian radio Astronomer Tiziana Venturi, who describes what she finds so enthralling about astronomy.

15. .... A Window to Creation.

How, from the intense heat and chaos of the big bang, did the universe come to be the way it looks now? This episode follows American and Japanese astronomers who seek to measure cosmic background radiation - the heat remaining from the big bang - by launching rockets and satellites above the earth's atmosphere. Their results contribute significantly to research into the origins of the universe. Also meet two astronomers who are mapping the universe in 3-D and discovering that galaxies have formed into gigantic groups such as the "Great Wall" of galaxies which is 500 million light years long.

16. .... Waves of the Future.

Gravity waves, as yet undetected but predicted by Albert Einstein, may contain the answers to many questions about the universe. Soviet scientist Leonid Grishchuk and American scientist Kip Throne describe their attempts to prove the existence of gravity waves. The episode also visits a gravity wave detector prototype and describes the three-mile-long full- scale version, planned for construction in the late 1990's. Until it and others like it are in operation, scientists must be content with "telescopes of the mind". Also witness a meeting of the minds between Grishchuk and noted scientist Stephen Hawking.

17. .... Stardust.

The deaths of stars allow our own lives to come into being. This episode explains how and looks at the complete life cycle of the stars that make up our galaxy. See two American scientists researching the forces that bring gas and dust together with such intense pressure that nuclear fusion results and a star is born. Meet Hans Bethe, the first scientist to explain in detail how stars are fueled. Then watch three Australian scientists look into the death of a star by studying the remains of the supernova explosion 1987.

18. .... Prospecting for Planets.

Although many scientists are convinced that other planetary systems exist, so far none have been found with certainty. This program focuses on the efforts to discover other systems and learn more about the planets of our own solar system. Meet Bradford Smith and Richard Terrile as they search the universe form an observatory in the Chilean Andes. See the work of other astronomers using telescopes in the United States, including David Latham who believes he may have detected a distant planetary system. View the spectacular images sent back to earth by voyager, the space probe exploring the outer edges of our solar system.

The Origin and the Evolution of the Universe

(descriptions taken from the video cover)

19. .... The Grand Design

This program takes us on a guided tour from our own backyard to the outer reaches of the Universe. Along the way, we

encounter the principal players in the Universe and gain a sense of the astonishing scale of this magnificent structure.Upon our return, we examine the Universe as it appears in different astronomical wave bands and study the relationship between radiation wavelength and the temperatures of objects we observe. We are assisted in our investigation by some of the most recent images obtained from ground- and space-based telescopes.

(58 minutes)

20. .... The Birth of the Stars and the Great Cosmic Cycle Star formation is one of the most important and least understood aspects of stellar evolution. Fortunately, with the aid of infrared cameras that can see through obscuring dust, we can probe deep into regions where stars are in the process of forming. The data we obtain provide important clues to the three principal problems of star formation. First, how does a collapsing cloud lose energy rapidly enough to enable a star to form? Second, how does a forming star stop rotating? Third, how does the star eliminate magnetic fields? The program reveals how recent observations of the youngest known stars provide potential solutions to these problems.

(60 minutes, color)

21. .... The Origin of Quasars

Until about 1950,astronomers believed that galaxies consisted of stars and gas. With the development of radio astronomy following World War II, however, it became apparent that galaxies contain magnetic fields and very high-energy particles. What came as a complete surprise was the finding that some galaxies are extraordinarily powerful sources of radio emission and generate fluxes of high-energy particles which are ejected far beyond the galaxy confines. But still bigger surprises were in store. Radio astronomical observations led to the discovery of quasars-the nuclei of galaxies that can have luminosities more than 1000 times the total light of the galaxies themselves. The origin of these remarkable phenomena is the focus of this program.

(59 minutes, color)

22. .... The Origin of Galaxies

This program presents a possible scenario for the origin the Universe. Though much of what is believed about the Universe's early history remains conjecture advances in science technology have provided intriguing clues to the question of when the galaxies formed. There is hope that over the next 20 years, further advances will make it possible to determine, through direct observation, how the Universe and the magnificent galaxies it encompasses came into being.

(58 minutes)

23. .... The Origin of the Universe

We leave to last the biggest problem: How did the Universe itself originate? This program examines the contributions of modern particle physics to the solution of the problem; the Inflationary Model of the early Universe; the asymmetry between matter and antimatter; and other intriguing facets of this great mystery.

(59 minutes. color)

24. .... Where the Galaxies Are (Mapping the Structureof the Universe)

(description taken from A.S.catalog)

(1991, VHS, 8 minutes, color)

This specially produced video reveals the first results from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics project to map the distribution of galaxies in the universe. In non-technical language, project Scientist Margaret Geller describes the goals of the project and explains the, painstaking work required to make the thousands of observations. She then displays the surprisingly beautiful 3-Dmap which has been produced. Although the may covers only a small portion of the observable universe. it already shows a remarkable, soap bubble like structure of galaxies surrounding great voids. The highlight of the video is a computer-animated tour through the map, showing the distribution of the galaxies from a variety of perspectives. This 8-minute film is a progress report on one of the most important astronomical research programs, and is a unique teaching tool for high school and university level classes. A detailed explanatory brochure is enclosed, along with a reading list on cosmology.

25. ....THE QUEST FOR CONTACT

(description from A.S Catalog)

(1987, VHS, 32 minutes)

Produced for.the S.E.T.I. Institute and NASA, this is a provocative inquiry into the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Narrated by astronomer Jill Tarter, the video features Frank Brake, Carl Sagan, Bernard Oliver, and other leading scientists, and provides clear explanations and analogies throughout. Includes a reading list of relevant science - and science fiction in the field.

26. .... Powers of Ten (The Films of Charles & Ray Eames)

The Planets
(An A&E and BBC Co-Production)

27. .... Different Worlds: Volume 1 1999, 50 minutes.
This is a richly detailed introduction to the creation, composition and alien landscape of the planets.

28. .... Terra Firma: 1999, 50 minutes.
Pierce the toxic clouds of Venus to map ancient lava flows the size of continents. Visit a Martian volcano taller than Mount Everest and head even farther out into the planetary system in search of clues to the “living” geological forces at work in the most unlikely cosmic corners.

29. .... Giants: Volume 3 1999, 50 minutes.
From the pioneering days of Galileo’s dogma shattering discovery of the Jupiter moons to NASA’s billion mile sojourns of Saturn and Neptune.

30. .... Moon: 1999, 50 minutes.
Join the search for the answer to one of the solar system’s most baffling mysteries, from Cold War scientists racing to be the first on the moon, to current theories and remarkable computer-generated visions of the moon’s explosive creation

31. .... Star: , 1999, 50 minutes.
Plunge into the center of the Sun to witness the reactions driving its primordial atomic pulse. And observe the spectacle of massive solar flares capable of engulfing entire planets, including our own.

32. .... Atmosphere: 1999, 50 minutes.
It’s an eye-opening exploration of otherworldly weather that reveals the surprising variety and force of atmospheric activity throughout the solar system.

33. .... Life Beyond the Sun: 1999, 50 minutes.
Come along for the ride as early planetary researchers learn that conditions on our neighboring planets may be too hostile to support life – and discover how recent findings hint there may be alien life “hiding out” in places we’ve overlooked

34. .... Destiny: 1999, 50 minutes.
Explore the Sun’s expansion as it engulfs its planetary progeny in the final, fiery act of its billion year-long dilemma. Watch as chilly Mars experiences a sultry heat-wave, Mercury and Venus melt down and gas giants undergo a startling cosmic change.

35. .... The Infinity Series: The Solar System 1990, 60 minutes.
A breathtaking tour of the solar system with moving pictures and photographs from NASA and leading observatories, and exciting animation.

Mysteries of Deep Space

36. .... To The Edge of the Universe 1997, 60 minutes.
The Hubble Space Telescope peers deep into the cosmos and reveals the mysterious structure of the universe.

37. .... Exploding Stars and Black Holes 1997, 60 minutes.
Violent events including black holes and supernovas shape the landscape of the universe.

38. .... The Search for Alien Worlds 1997, 60 minutes.
The search for planets and the presence of life beyond our solar system.


39. .... Aurora: Rivers of Light in the Sky 1994, 40 minutes.
Witness the extraordinary footage of Alaska's Northern Lights; the myths, legends and science behind one of nature's most beautiful night-bond mysteries. (There is very little science in this video).


40. .... The Creation of the Universe 1995, 92 minutesFrom the Big Bang 15 million years ago to the frontiers of science today, scientists explore the ideas: What happened in the first fraction of the first second of the universe? What do galaxies of stars have in common with tiny atoms? Why do some scientists believe the universe is expanding? Was every atom inside the human body once inside a star?

42. .... Point of No Return: the Challenger disaster Seventy-three seconds after takeoff, the shuttle Challenger exploded. This documentary examines how political pressure and scientific arrogance doomed the project from the beginning. American and international experts discuss why some officials ignored warnings about possible equipment problems, and how they coerced other officials into keeping quiet. Government attempts to cover up what really happened are exposed. Scientists, including Nobel laureate Richard Feynman, provide detailed explanations of the mechanical failures that caused the disaster. (25 minutes, color)

43. .... Space and Science Series: Jupiter, Saturn, & Uranus - The Voyager Missions

44. .... Space and Science Series: Mars & Mercury

45. .... Space Explorers: A History of the Last Frontier

Using rarely seen footage, this program traces the history of human space exploration from Yuri Gagarin’s first orbit of Earth, through the moon landings, to the present-day Shuttle program and Mir. Also discussed are how scientists get things into orbit, what it’s like to live and work in space, what happens when astronauts get sick, and how plants are grown in space. (20 minutes, color)

46. .... Aerospace Technology: The Space Shuttle

Regularly scheduled space shuttle missions have become a common feature of the NASA space program, allowing astronauts to launch and retrieve communication satellites, repair exploration equipment such as the Hubble telescope, and conduct numerous experiments. This video follows NASA officials through the development stages of the reusable shuttle fleet and outlines testing procedures used to ready the shuttle Columbia for its first in-space flight. Subsequent missions are outlined along with commentary from crew members detailing satellite rendezvous attempts, conducting of experiments, and daily living conditions. It provides an interesting look at our continuing quest to explore and understand space. A Shopware Production. One 45-minute video. © 1993.

47. .... Modeling Satellite Motion

Using computer graphics, this program examines the problem of finding the radius of the orbit of a geosynchronous satellite using Newton’s laws. A review of the mathematics required is given, along with a detailed solution to the problem that explains the modeling process. Optional teaching pause points are provided between each step. Suggestions for further problems associated with space flight include excellent NASA footage. (18 minutes, color)

48. .... From Stonehenge to Hubble: Looking to the Stars

Animation and historical footage trace the progress of astronomy from megalithic observatories through the genius of Isaac Newton, to the Hubble telescope. The Hubble’s eye, a tour de force in astronomy tools, is used to describe how telescopes work and how it, in particular, relays pictures to earth. (20 minutes, color)

49. ..... A Private Universe Misconceptions that block learning. Students and faculty are asked why we have seasons

50. .... A Special Collection of NASA/JPL Video 100 minutes.
Voyager encounter highlights: a collection of movies (5 titles). Collection of Magellan Venus radar mapping results. Galileo Earth/Moon 1 encounter . Rotation movies. Neptune encounter highlights.

51. .... Project ASTRO: Partners in learning

52. .... A Galactic Odyssey: The prologue

53. .... Destination Future: High tech metropolis

54. ..... Destination Future: High tech transport

55. .... Blast Off: True stories from the final frontier

56. .... Kaufmann Video (The active sun: video #1 – convection)

Cosmic Questions: Astronomy from quark to quasar

57. .... Cosmic Questions: Lectures 1-4

58. ..... Cosmic Questions: Lectures 5-8

59. .... Eclipse of the Century

In Hawaii on July 11, 1991, astronomers and scientists discovered a remarkable opportunity to examine a total eclipse of the sun. Sun, moon and earth would perfectly align, achieving "totality" directly above technologically advanced observatories perched atop Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano. For the first time, giant telescopes could see behind the sizzle of the sun and begin to understand our closest star.

But the project was not as simple as it seemed. In the days preceding "the eclipse of the century," astronomers faced equipment breakdowns, incompatible telescopes, threatening weather and a celestial spectacle that would wait for no one. Join the action as scientists prepare for an unprecedented look at the normally invisible corona--the sun's superheated atmosphere. And take a breathtaking look at the sky's most exciting event.

60. .... Venus Unveiled

Discover an uncharted world with the Magellan space probe.
Although it's Earth's closest neighbor, Venus was an enigma until the Magellan space probe pierced the thick clouds shrouding its surface, exposing a strange, alien landscape that still stirs controversy and scientific debate.
Magellan's four-year tour revealed an astonishing planet with bizarre topography, crushing atmospheric pressure, and surface temperatures of 900 degrees. Through unprecedented access to NASA, expert interviews, and rare footage, NOVA takes you on a unique voyage to explore a world no one had ever seen before.
Get a fascinating up-close look as Magellan transports you to the uncharted surface of our sister planet. See the astounding first images from the Magellan that shattered many scientific predictions. Trace the dramatic history of previous exploration attempts, including disastrous early Russian missions. See how the new data sparked conflicting theories about the planet's evolution and current state. And discover how future missions to Venus could further deepen understanding of our solar system.

61. .... Rescue Mission in Space ( The Hubble Space Telescope)

The Hubble Space Telescope searches for black holes, primitive galaxies, the beginning of time. The problem: somebody goofed in making Hubble's eight-foot diameter curved mirror which was supposed to see ten times more clearly than any ground based telescope. NOVA follows the exploits of the astronauts who saved the day in the most complicated and ambitious space mission since the Moon landings. Share their fears of what could go wrong during five space walks and encounter the difficulties of working in space. As a final test of the successful mission, witness the stunning work the Hubble Telescope has already done in unlocking the deepest secrets of the universe.

62. .... Apollo 13: To the Edge and Back

The gripping, true story of the catastrophic flight of the Apollo 13 and the heroic struggle to bring the astronauts back alive. With first-hand accounts from the pilots, their families and the people of mission control, it documents a thrilling struggle against time and all odds and serves as a reminder that, in the words of James Lovell, "We do not realize what we have on Earth until we leave it.".

63. .... To the Moon 2hrs)
The mission was impossible. The odds were astronomical. The results were spectacular. NOVA presents the fascinating story behind the Apollo space program, including the most remarkable feat in human history--the historic walk on the moon in 1969. Meet the unsung heroes, experience the dangers and discover a broader range of Apollo perspectives than any space documentary ever produced.

In this expanded two-hour special, you'll see rare footage, explore little-known facts and enjoy rare insightful interviews with the NASA scientists, engineers, geologists and astronauts who made the dream of walking on the moon a reality. Share the vivid recollections of Apollo astronauts Gene Cernan and Frank Borman, plus legendary Flight Director Gene Kranz. Hear courageous tales from the pioneering Gemini space program. And explore how past lunar discoveries continue to produce exciting revelations.

64. .... Apollo13: “Houston, We’ve Got a Problem!”

65. .... Terror in Space (The Mir space station)

66. .... The Doomsday Asteroid

This program concerns an important question -- are you likely to be hit in the head by a asteroid, comet, or meteoroid? The video attempts to answer several provocative questions including: What causes craters? Are there any craters on the earth? Do meteoroids ever hit nearby people? Where do the objects that cause craters come from? Where did the asteroid that may have caused the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago? How can man prevent asteroids and comets from hitting the earth? What happened on Jupiter in July of 1994?
The presentation features interviews with astronomers including Gene Shoemaker, Carolyn Shoemaker, and David Levy, codiscoverers of the infamous Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Also, appearing are planetary scientists and astronomers David Raup, Steve Ostro, Duncan Steele, Clark Chapman, and geologist Glenn Penfield, the discoverer of the 65 million year old Chixalub impact site. Animation and location shots from around the world are blended with telescopic data on comets and asteroids.
• What happened in the Tunguska River Valley in Siberia in 1908? How does this explanation compare with the explanation given by Professor Sagan in Cosmos: Heaven and Hell that you viewed earlier in the course?
• Do meteoroids ever hit close to people? Give one example.
• What is the origin of comets, asteroids, and meteoroids?
• Where in the solar system are the rocky asteroids found?
• Where are the two regions in the solar system in which the icy comets are found?
• Why is the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia a good place to find meteorites? What is another good place?
• About how fast is a meteoroid traveling when it his the earth's atmosphere?
• How much meteroidal material falls to the earth each year?
• What does the term uniformitarianism mean?
• Where did the asteroid suspected of causing the demise of the dinosaurs hit? How did Glen Penfield discover this important impact site?
• What is the frequency of major asteroid strikes?
• How many asteroids cross the earth's orbit?
• What organization has recorded the most meteor explosions in the earth's atmosphere?
• What might be a practical use of the SDI technology (Ron's Ray Gun) now that the Cold War is over?
• What did David Levy, Carolyn Shoemaker, and Gene Shoemaker discover on 3-23-93? How was this discovery made? (Note: Gene Shoemaker was tragically killed in an auto accident in Australia in 1997.)
• What effect did these objects have when they struck Jupiter?
• How much energy was released when nucleus G of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit Jupiter?
• What effect would occur if these objects had hit the earth?
• How well prepared is mankind to deal with the treat of an asteroid impact?
• Is this risk real or is it just another piece of new age nonsense?

67. .... Satellite Technology

68. .... Secrets of Science: Into Outer Space

69. ..... From Here to Infinity: The Ultimate Voyage

70. .... Black Holes

71. .... The Mystery of Mars

72. .... Time Travel

NOVA examines the feasibility of time travel.
The program:
• challenges early theories that time travel might be possible using a black hole.
• describes how wormholes, predicted by Einstein's theories, might provide a shortcut through time and space.
• shows how modern jet travel and atomic clocks have been used to prove Einstein's theory of special relativity.
• presents the views of such scientists as Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, and Kip Thorne.
• examines the consequences of the grandfather paradox and shows how laws of physics might prevent time travelers from changing the past, thereby affecting the future.
• presents a controversial experiment that claims to have sent a signal faster than the speed of light.
• introduces reasoning that the laws of relativity prevent a time traveler using a wormhole time machine from going back to a time before the machine was built.
• concludes with scientists disagreeing about the feasibility of time travel.

Part I.   Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy

73. .... Lecture 1 to 3

74. .... Lecture 4 to 6

75. .... Lecture 7 to 8

Part II.   Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy

76. .... Lecture 9 to 11

77. .... Lecture 12 to 14

78. .... Lecture 15 to 16

Part III.   Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy

79. .... Lecture 17 to 19

80. .... Lecture 20 to 22

81. .... Lecture 23 to 24

Part IV.   Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy

82. .... Lecture 25 to 27

83. .... Lecture 28 to 30

84. .... Lecture 31 to 32

Part V.   Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy

85. .... Lecture 33 to35

86. .... Lecture 36 to 38

87. .... Lecture 39 to 40