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What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements ?
Encourage students to look for a familiy recipe for apple pie.
Elemental composition of the ingredients can be found on the web or in
reference books.
An apple pie is made primarily frm apples, flour, and sugar. Because
thess are all organic, the primary elements are hydrogen, carbon,
nitrogen, and oxygen. Carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are made in small
and large stars, while hydrogen is made in
the big bang. Students may trace carbon, nitrogen and oxygen back to
helium, and then back to hydrogen, via the fusion processes in the
stellar life cycle.
Another ingredient often used is salt. This introduces sodium and
chlorine. These elements are made in the red giant stage of a large
star's life. Students may trace these (via fusio) to the helium
produced during the first stage of a star's life, and ultimately
back to hydrogen.
Students may also find varying amounts of other elements. For
example, milk is often brushed on the crust. Hence, there is a trace
amount of calcium, which is produced in large stars. In the apples
themselves, students may also find calcium, phosphorous (both of which
are produced in large stars), and iron (produced in large stars and supernovae).
We suggest the following grading breakdown for the Grandma's Applie
Pie presentations:
- 40% Accuracy of scientific content
- 20% Quality of presentation
- 20% Creativity of the artistic element
- 20% Successfully addressing all aspects of the problem
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