Guia exploratório sobre radiação cósmica (projeto AstroPi)

1. Space Radiation
Cosmic Rays, Gamma Background Radiation and the Solar Wind

2. Introduction
Space is a dangerous place. As well as the problems caused by huge
temperature fluctuations, a near-total vacuum and weightlessness, dangerous
amounts of radiation arrive from a range of sources near and far.
This Astro-Pi resource is suitable for students of Advanced-Level Physics, or for those students of
GCSE Physics who wish to take their study further. It puts ionising radiation into a space context;
describes the effect of radiation on human health, and looks at the practical issues relating to
protecting humans and electronic equipment during deep-space and near-Earth missions.
How to use this guide:
This teacher guide, and the resources that accompany it, can be used in different ways:
1. The resources listed below can be used to reinforce or replace existing curriculum materials
and approaches to learning. While GCSE and GCE specifications might vary, the activities
cover may core themes. This approach might be used as part of a thematic learning
experience, or over a series of sessions. This would give a thorough preparation for meeting
the challenges and entering the competition, regardless of prior learning.
2. Teachers can pick and choose which activities, resources and links to use and when – they
can effectively be used independently of each other. This might enhance the ways in which
space and wider physics topics are currently taught. If teachers have specific challenges in
mind that align with their interests and those of the students, learning activities might be
selectively chosen.
3. Teachers may wish to present students, in class or as part of an extra-curricular activity, with
the challenges only.
Please note – the challenges are merely suggestions, and schools are completely free to use
the AstroPi in any way they see fit to enter the competition.

3. Learning Activities
1. What is Radiation?
What is radiation? This ESA online lesson includes text and interactive media explaining the nature
of wave and particle radiation
And this ESA webpage, taking particle and wave radiation further, might be provided to students for
independent study.
To aid the students’ understanding of the diminishing effect of wave radiation over distance, some
classroom demonstrations and calculations of the inverse square law can be found here
2. The Sun as a Source of Radiation
This Catalyst Magazine article discusses the solar wind and its role in generating the auroras,
observable at extreme northern and southern latitudes.
This ESA webpage introduces the Solar facility on the ISS, which has been used to analyse solar
radiation that might cause damage to the ISS and its crew.
To aid understanding of the protection from ionised particles provided by the Earth’s magnetic field,
this ESA activity looks at the forces non charges within a field and relates it to Flemings Left Hand
Rule
3. Radiation from Deep Space
To appreciate the vast distances to sources of cosmic radiation, it may help students to understand
what is a light year.
This leaflet, which also opens up to a large wall display, then introduces cosmic rays and raises
questions about the sources of such radiation
Gamma rays are also observable as a diffuse background cosmic radiation. This activity introduces
Gamma Ray astronomy, including use of the Earth as a Gamma ray shield.
This resource relates to an ESA mission, Integral, designed to measure high-energy cosmic radiation

4. 4. Protecting Humans from Space radiation
This ESA video explains the work of Italian physicist Edoardo Amaldi who discovered cosmic
radiation. It goes on to describe the challenges faced by his namesake the ISS Automated Transfer
Vehicle, and by other humans wishing to travel deeper into space, such as on the planned mission to
Mars
A more rigorous examination of the absorption and health effects of ionising radiation can be found
in this resource.
This NASA resource offers the opportunity to apply mathematical skills to the question of harmful
effects of radiation on the human body. It uses non-SI units (Rem), as opposed to SI unit (Sieverts)
for radiation exposure
This resource contextualises exposure to radiation from space, in comparison with other terrestrial
sources
Additional links:
Research paper on the viability of a CMOS-based radiation detector for smartphones
http://phys.org/news/2014-06-smartphone-detector-app-positive.html

5. SEEKING
INSPIRATION?
The CMOS sensor in the
Astro-Pi camera is
sensitive to ionising
electrons, which can
cause flashes of light. Can
this be used to measure
space radiation?
Consider that the camera in your
smartphone is also sensitive to these
electrons, but the flashes are not
seen in your videos – to crack this
challenge you’ll need to understand
why.
Image: ESA

6. SEEKING
INSPIRATION?
The Sun is a significant source of radiation in space.
As we get further from the protection of the Earth’s magnetic field the flux of particles
increases.
Is this affected as the ISS passes into the Earth’s shadow, where it might be shielded from the
solar wind?
Does this depend on latitude and other factors?
Image: ESA

7. SEEKING
INSPIRATION?
Although they are
protected from its most
harmful effects,
radiation can affect the
health and well-being
of astronauts aboard
the ISS.
Can you create a
system that can assess
their well-being at time
of high and low solar
wind flux?
Image: ESA

8. SEEKING
INSPIRATION?
Solar maximum is the time,
within an eleven year cycle,
when solar activity such as
flares and coronal mass
ejections is at its highest.
Some scientists think this is
the most harmful time to be in
space, while some
measurements suggest it is the
time of least radiation
bombarding the ISS.
Can you help decide the
argument?
Image: ESA

9. SEEKING
INSPIRATION?
The aurorae are a beautiful reminder of the impact of the solar wind on Earth’s atmosphere.
Can you use this unique opportunity to capture images of the aurorae from space, to share with fellow
Earthlings? Can the camera be triggered when the ISS is best-placed to photograph the aurorae?
Image: ESA