Create a Comet with Dry Ice Activity
| Levels |
|
|---|---|
| Material Type |
|
| Heliophysics Big Ideas |
|
| NGSS |
|
| Heliophysics Topics |
|
| Material Cost per Learner | $10 – $20 |
| Language | English |
This Do-It-Yourself activity guides students through making their own simulated comet, providing an opportunity to make observations, discuss changing states of matter, and demonstrate measuring skills.
Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust, roughly the size of a small town. When a comet's orbit brings it close to the sun, it heats up and spews dust and gases into a giant glowing head larger than most planets. The dust and gases form a tail that stretches away from the sun for millions of kilometers.
The activity in question combines store-bought and at-home materials in a way that simulates what the core or "nucleus" of a comet might look like, if you could hold one in your hands. The linked page includes a list of materials needed, step-by-step instructions, and the demonstration video shown above.