How to use Astronomy facts to Develop A Science Project
Astronomy is the Study of Celestial Bodies
Celestial bodies include the Sun, planets,
moons, stars, comets, and asteroids.
Getting Started
1. Start with an astronomy fact, such as:
Fact: The position of the Sun in the sky during the day affects the length of shadows.
Think!
How is the shadow length affected? Does the shadow get longer or shorter?
Does a certain position of the sun always produce shadows of the same length?
2. Identify the two things in the fact that are changing:
FYI: Things that change are called variables.
(1) changes in the position of the Sun is a variable
(2)changes in the length of shadows is a variable
3. Identify the two variables as an independent variable or an independent variable.
Generally the independent variable can change the dependent variable but not vise-versa.
Use this sentence to identify your variables. Substitude the variables where indicated.
A change in (independent variable) may cause a change in (dependent variable).
(1) A change in the shadow length may cause a change in the position of the Sun.
(2) A change in the position of the Sun may cause a change in shadow lengths.
Sentence 2 is corrct. Thus, the independent variable is the position of the Sun and the dependent variable is shadow length.
Your science project question could be:
How does the Sun’s position in the sky during the day affect the length of shadows?
Click Here for Research Information About Sun Shadows