Dry Ice Comet

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, dry ice and other items are used to construct a demonstration model of a comet that illustrates the comet nucleus, coma, and tails. This activity introduces learners to the structure of comets and the interactions between comets and our Sun.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Demonstration, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • 5 pounds of dry ice
  • Mallet
  • Eye protection
  • Thick work gloves or insulated rubber gloves
  • Plastic bowl - large
  • Paper grocery bag
  • 13 gallon garbage bag
  • Pie pan or flat tray
  • 1 liter (34 ounces) of water
  • 1 cup of soil
  • Dash of ammonia
  • Dash of alcohol
  • Dash of cornstarch
  • Dash of dark corn syrup
  • Hairdryer with a low or cool setting
  • Strong flashlight

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
    • Solar System
      • The Sun
      • Asteroids and Comets
  • Physical Sciences
    • States of Matter
      • Changes of Phase

Informal Categories

  • Model Building

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation, ESI-0125693