7. Hidden Minerals: Using Spectroscopy to Understand Mars

Learners interpret spectra to identify water-based minerals at potential Mars landing sites.

Setup: Prep Time 50 min

  • At least two days ahead, create tactile spectra graphs and allow them to dry.
  • Determine how learners will access audio files.

*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.

21st Century Skills

  • Critical Thinking

Science Practices

  • Analyzing & Interpreting Data

Learners Will Do

  • Interpret spectra to identify minerals on Mars that have formed in water.

Learners Will Know

  • Scientists can identify materials by looking at their spectra.

Connecting Across Activities

  • Activity 6: Introducing Spectroscopy: Last time, learners learned how to interpret spectra of light reflected from various objects, which will later help them identify minerals from a distance.
  • Activity 7: Using Spectroscopy to Understand Mars: Today, learners interpret spectra to identify the types of minerals at each of the different landing sites. These graphs are the third set of data they will use to choose a landing site.
  • Activity 8: Choosing a Landing Site and Preparing for the Science Share-Out: Next time, they will use the various kinds of data they have collected–landform images, topographic maps, and spectra –to choose a landing site.

Related Videos

The Electromagnetic Spectrum
PlayPlay
Using Light to Find Out What Things Are Made Of (Spectroscopy)
PlayPlay
How Light is Used in Remote Sensing
PlayPlay
How we use Spectroscopy to Learn About Other Planets
PlayPlay
Why Do Scientists Need to Measure Infrared Light
PlayPlay
previous arrow
next arrow
 
Light going through a prism to be broken into the rainbow colors
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Showing how Red - Green - And Blue circles intersect to create colors and white at its center
Using Light to Find Out What Things Are Made Of (Spectroscopy)
Laser beams of green light shooting out from an instrument
How Light is Used in Remote Sensing
A photo of rocks and the spectrum graph it emits
How we use Spectroscopy to Learn About Other Planets
A graph showing two elements in their Visible and Infrared wavelengths
Why Do Scientists Need to Measure Infrared Light
previous arrow
next arrow

Level Up!