This wind was confirmed in 1959 by the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft and has been the object of study ever since. The solar wind consists of charged particles, mainly protons and electrons, emanating from the Sun in all directions at speeds of several hundred kilometers per second. The solar wind also contains, in much smaller amounts, positive ions stripped of many of their electrons by the extremely high temperatures of the Sun. This information is adding to our knowledge of the composition of the solar wind.
Students compare relative terrestrial abundances by inspection.
Ar-40 Students compare abundances by division. There is 5.4 times as much Ar-36. Perform several comparisons so students become proficient. Allow 30-45 minutes for this activity. Optical bench Optical slit with scale and holder Mercury light source Incandescent light source Individual student science notebooks or paper.