One way scientists track solar activity is by observing sunspots. Sunspots are relatively cool areas that appear as dark blemishes on the face of the Sun. In this activity, you will explore the long-term cycle of solar activity by graphing the past 14 years of annual sunspot numbers. As a rule of thumb, if you divide the official sunspot number by 15, then you'll get the approximate number of individual sunspots visible on the solar disk if you look at the Sun by projecting its image on a white screen with a small telescope. Answer the following activity questions.
Solar maxima tend to last for months to years.
No, a longer data set is required. If the year 2000 turns out to be a solar maximum, then predict how old you will be during the next solar maximum. Answers will vary. If a student is currently 13 years old, then they will be 24 when the next solar maximum occurs.