Stormy Sunspots - mrsd.org

1 Name: _____ Date: _____ Pd: _____ Stormy Sunspots I. Purpose The purpose of this lab is to determine how magnetic storms on Earth are related to sunspot activity II. Materials Graph paper Pencil Ruler III. Procedure 1. Use the data in the table to make al ine graph of sunspot activity between 1967 and 1997. 2. On the graph, label the x-axis year. Use a scale with 2-year intervals from 1967 to 1997. 3. Label the y-axis Sunspot number . Use a scale of 0 through 160 in intervals of 10. 4. Graph a point for the Sunspot number for each year.

2 5. Complete your graph by drawing lines to connect the points. IV. Data A. Diagram n/a B. Observations n/a C. Data Tables Sunspots Year Sunspot number Year Sunspot number 1967 1983 1969 1985 1971 1987 1973 1989 1975 1991 1977 1993 1979 1995 1981 1997 D. Graph include on attached graph paper (don t forget to give it a title and labels!) E. Analysis Questions 1. Based on your graph, which years had the highest sunspot number ? Which had the lowest sunspot number ?

3 _____ _____ _____ 2. How often does the cycle of maximum and minimum activity repeat? _____ _____ _____ 3. When was the most recent maximum sunspot activity ? When was the most recent minimum sunspot activity ? _____ _____ _____ 4. Compare your sunspot graph with the magnetic storms graph below. What relationship can you infer between periods of high sunspot activity and magnetic storms? Explain. _____ _____ _____ 5. During which years do you think electrical disturbances on Earth were most common? _____ _____ _____ V.

4 Conclusion no conclusion this time (don t cry!) ** Bonus Question ** Using the pattern of sunspot activity you found, predict the number of peaks you would expect in the next 30 years. Around which years would you expect peaks to occur?