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Az and E

Azimuth and Elevation: A Map of the Sky

Objective:  Students will find azimuth and elevation of several objects from their own frame of reference, and plot the location of the objects on a graph.   By comparing with other groups, they will find that azimuth and elevation depend on their location.

Materials:

Magnetic Compass

Protractor

Drinking Straw

String

Small weights (washers would be fine)

Tape

Meter stick (if outside)

Teacher Preparation:

This activity can be indoors or outdoors.  The teacher should choose a location to do the measurements.  Student groups should be far enough apart so that their measurements of azimuth and elevation differ significantly for some objects.  The teacher should also prepare a list of objects for each group to locate.  If outside, make sure some of the objects are at reasonably high elevations, such as the top of a flagpole or top of a tree that is close to the students.

Procedure: 

Students should do this activity in groups of at least two.

1.     All measurements of azimuth and elevation should be made from the same point.  It is impractical to make the measurements from the ground, so a point at the corner of a table, or one meter off the ground if outside should be chosen.  This point is the local reference point.

2.       Azimuth – The azimuth of an object is the compass reading to the point on the ground directly under the object.  Student should learn to use the magnetic compass if they cannot already do so.

3.       Constructing an elevation meter.  Tie a weight to the end of a piece of string, and connect the other end of the string to the protractor axis.  Tape a drinking straw to the flat part of the protractor.  By sighting through the straw, with the axis of the protractor at the local reference point, the angle of elevation can be measured.  Make sure that you measure the angle above the horizon, and not the angle from the vertical.  One person should do the sighting while the other reads the protractor.

4.       Make a chart of the azimuth and elevation of several objects. 

5.       From your chart, graph the location of the objects.  The x-axis of your graph should be the azimuth from zero to 360 degrees, and the y-axis should be elevation, from zero to 90 degrees.

Discussion Questions:

1.       Why do different groups get different measurements of azimuth and elevation?

2.    Think about standing on the earth, which is moving, making measurements of the azimuth and elevation of objects in the sky.  How will the azimuth and elevation of these objects change as the earth moves?   What sorts of paths will celestial objects trace out in the sky?

 

 

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