Versatile System for Learning about Radio Telescopes
Versatile System for Learning about Radio Telescopes
An introduction to a Very Small Radio Telescope (VSRT) interferometer system
and a series of experiments to learn about radio waves and their properties.
By Stephen Minnigh and Michael Doherty
Created under the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at MIT Haystack Observatory, which is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Abstract
- This unit brings the exploration of radio waves into the classroom through the use of the Very Small Radio Telescope (VSRT). The VSRT system can be assembled by the user from commercially available parts for less than $500.
- The unit consists of various activities and experiments that are appropriate in varying degrees for grades 8-12. These hands-on, inquiry-based activities are an excellent introduction to the concept of invisible electromagnetic radiation.
- These materials are appropriate for physics classes by experimenting with the transmission, absorption, propagation, polarization and interference of radio waves (not visible light) emitted by a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL).
- Use in a general science classroom would include comparing the transmission of light and radio waves through various materials as well as learning about the polarization of both visible light sources and radio waves from a CFL.
Table of Contents
National and Massachusetts Education Standards (doc)
VSRT Introduction, Installation and Operation Instructions:
- VSRT Software Installation Instructions (doc)
Unit #1 – Transmission
- Activity – Radio Wave Opacity (doc)
- Experiment – Exponential Absorption (doc)
Unit #2 – Wave Spreading ( Inverse Square Law – 1/r² )
- Experiment – Inverse Square Law (doc)
Unit #3 – Polarization
- Activity – Polarized or Unpolarized (doc)
- Experiment – Malus’ Law (doc)
Unit #4 – Interference
- Experiment – Measurement of Wavelength of Radio Waves (doc)
- Experiment - Angular Width of Sun (xls)- Advanced Lab using Airy & Bessel Functions
Links to Additional VSRT Documents
- Listing of VSRT and MOSAIC Memo Series - Alan EE Rogers (MIT Haystack Observatory)
- #6 – Tests of compact fluorescent lamp as microwave sources
- #8 - Laboratory demonstration projects
- #12 – Science ideas for a single baseline VSRT
- #17 – Tests and laboratory demonstrations with a single LNB
- #25 – Laboratory demonstrations / experiments
- #26 – Calibration of 2-element interferometer
- #28 – Simplest laboratory set-up to demonstrate the principles of radio interferometry
- #30 – REVISED: Simple set-up to observe fringes on Sun & measure the solar diameter
- #32 – Polarization demonstration using VSRT
- #36 – Microwave properties of water and ice
- #41 – Satellite TV dish offset geometry
- #47 – Parts for basic VSRT
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