Featured Resources
Classroom-Ready Activities
Science Olympiad Webinar
Science Olympiad JS9 Guide
Space Math @ NASA
NSO Tests 2024
- GGSO Invitational
- NY RFTS Regional
- BirdSO Invitational
- DSM Astro Invitational
- UTexas Astro Invitational
- UTexas RFTS Invitational
Informal Education
Background
Interactive Games
Space Scoop
STOP for Science
Chandra Podcasts
Printable Materials
Resource Request
Educators' Comments
Evaluation Form
Links & Resources
Education Collaborations
Passport to Knowledge
Space Place
Web Shortcuts
Chandra Blog
RSS Feed
Chronicle
Email Newsletter
News & Noteworthy
Image Use Policy
Questions & Answers
Glossary of Terms
Download Guide
Get Adobe Reader
Demonstrations for Supernova Explosions

Ejection of Atmospheric Layers

Materials: a basketball (or soccer ball) and a tennis ball)

Demonstration: First drop each ball individually on the floor so that the students can see how far above the floor the basketball and the tennis ball rebound. Then place the tennis ball on top of the basketball and hold them out in front of you. Let go of both balls at the same time so that they fall towards the floor together. When the two balls hit the floor the tennis ball will suddenly rebound with enough energy to hit the ceiling.

Related Physics: When the core of the star implodes it contracts catastrophically, just like the imploding can. At the end of the contraction the material in the core comes together with such a large amount of force that it rebounds. As the core (represented by the basketball) contracts, all the outer atmospheric layers (represented by the tennis ball) are also contracting and following the core. They are less dense and take a little longer to contract than the core. When the core (basketball) rebounds, the atmospheric layers (tennis ball) are still in-falling towards the core. The rebounding core meets the in-coming atmospheric layers with enough energy to literally blow the atmospheric layers away from the star due to the transfer of momentum from the basketball to the tennis ball. This is the supernova explosion.