SUNSPOTS 2011 NAME PD Astronomy

1 SUNSPOTS 2011 name _____ PD _____ Astronomy Background SUNSPOTS are relatively cool regions of the Sun s surface (photosphere) that are produced by magnetic storms. The number of SUNSPOTS per year increases and decreases over time. This creates a sunspot cycle. What is the periodicity of this cycle? Procedure 1. Use Excel to input the data. Use one column for the year and another column for sunspot number . 2. Create a graph and label each axis properly. Title the graph Sunspot number 1925 to 2010. 3. Connect the data points with a line. Make your graph your own. :D Play with the different options. 4. Answer the questions below and attach your graph. YEAR SUNSPOT number YEAR SUNSPOT number YEAR SUNSPOT number 1925 44 1951 70 1977 28 1926 64 1952 32 1978 93 1927 69 1953 14 1979 156 1928 78 1954 4 1980 155 1929 65 1955 38 1981 140 1930 36 1956 142 1982 116 1931 21 1957 190 1983 67 1932 11 1958 185 1984 46 1933 6 1959 159 1985 18 1934 9 1960 112 1986 13 1935 36 1961 54 1987 30 1936 80 1962 38 1988 100 1937 114 1963 28 1989 158 1938 110 1964 10 1990 143 1939 89 1965 15 1991 146 1940 68 1966 47 1992 94 1941 48 1967 94 1993 55 1942 31 1968 106 1994 30 1943 16 1969 105 1995 18 1944 10 1970 105 1996 9 1945 33 1971 67 1997 22 1946 93 1972 69 1998 64 1947 152 1973 38 1999 93 1948 136 1974 35 2000 120 1949 135 1975 16 2001 111 1950 84 1976 13 2002 104 2003 64 2006 15 2009 13* 2004 40 2007 6 2010 49* 2005 30 2008 3 2011 * preliminary Questions on reverse Questions (Attach finished graph to this paper) 1.

2 On the data table, shade the boxes with the year and number of each maximum. Use a red colored pencil. (Example shade the boxes with the year - 1937 and the sunspot number of 114). See how 1928 is done go over in red. 2. On the data table, shade the boxes with the year and the number of each minimum. Use blue colored pencil. (Example shade boxes with the year - 1933 and the sunspot number of 6) 3. When was the most recent year of maximum sunspot activity? _____ 4. Before the last maximum, in what year was the last quiet (minimum) period of SUNSPOTS ? _____ 5. Does there appear to be a cycle to sunspot activities? _____ 6. What is the average time in years between the peaks or periods of maximum sunspot activity? _____ (to the nearest whole year) 7. Based on the number of SUNSPOTS recorded in 2006 and in recent years, what is your prediction for the sunspot number for 2011 ?

3 _____Higher or lower than 2010? _____ 8. In what year will there be the next MAXIMUM? _____ 9. Look at the diagram below. Does the slope of the line to a maximum = slope of the line to a minimum? In other words, is the maximum equal distance (equal time) from two minimums? Explain. 10. In what year were you born? _____ Was this a year when we were heading to a sunspot maximum or minimum? How do you know? Explain fully. Refer to data table.