Key takeaways
A discussion of the methods used to discover exoplanets.
An exploration of the different types of planet found.
An analysis of what “Earth like” means and if an Earth like planet has been found.
Host: Laura studied at Royal Holloway University of London and the Open University. She is passionate about science communication and has presented talks about Exoplanets at Oxford University and Imperial College London. Have you heard of Kepler-186f, HD 209458 b, or 51 Pegasi b? These are all the scientific names of exoplanets! Up to this point there have now been over 4000 planets that have been discovered orbiting stars other than our own Sun. Most of the planetary systems found do not resemble our Solar System whatsoever and are full of unusual and exotic planets that are stranger than science fiction!
In this class, students will gain a better understanding of what exoplanets are and the variety of techniques used to discover these planets. Students will also discuss the planets made of diamond and if there has been a planet found that may be habitable for humans. This class is great for physics students in Year 10 - 11.
Related Classes: Dwarf Planets, Comets and Asteroids, The Gas Giants Planets, The Rocky Planets
Safeguarding reminder:The safety of your child is of the utmost importance. All of our classes are pre-recorded to remove any concerns around live participation. For reruns of our past live classes, students' webcams and microphones were disabled and only the chat history, if participation was requested, is visible.
Suitable for:
This class is suitable for all students of Physics who want to study Exoplanets In Years 10-11 or S4-S5.
Class requirements:
You will need a laptop or device with internet connection to watch the class, as well as a pen and notepad for taking notes.
What to expect:
- This class will take place online via a Zoom webinar.
- For live classes, please arrive promptly. Students' cameras and microphones are disabled by default.
- For on demand classes, students will be watching a recording of a previous live class.
- Once you have signed up, you will be taken to your dashboard where you can view details of the class, and re-watch it in the future.
- Students will be sent confirmation of the class to their email address if provided.