Lesson Plan

Marvelous Martian Mineralogy

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

All you need is light. Groups use a reflectometer to find the reflectivity of specific chemical compounds. Learners compare the graphs of the reflectivity of the known compounds to Martian soil. Using the graph comparisons, scholars determine if the soil contains any of the compounds.

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Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Present a lesson on using analysis of spectra to determine what chemicals are in a substance
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires reflectometers
  • Assumes students have experience with the electromagnetic spectrum
Pros
  • Includes a Flash alternative simulation
  • Contains troubleshooting tips
Cons
  • None