TRY

Teacher Activities
  
Student Activities

TRY using new knowledge. In the KaAMS mission, a remote sensing device called AVIRIS was used. A device such as this has an array of sensors on it and each sensor is capable of sensing and recording information from only a small portion of the EM spectrum.

Check students' understanding of terminology.
See Activity sheet: Defining the terms (RSS-4).

  • Array
  • Spectrum
  • Spectrometer
  • Electromagnetic (EM)
  • Radiation
  • EM spectrum

Lead students into an exploration of what it is like to detect only small parts of the visible spectrum, have them participate in the Introduction To The Study of Remote Sensing lesson. Students will experience what it is like to see only certain colors through glasses they make from colored filters.

 

Ask why do you think you could only see pipe cleaners of certain colors through your special glasses?

Teacher note: There are two important connections to make that will be built upon throughout the rest of this lesson:

  • The sensors on a device such as AVIRIS are only sensitive to certain frequencies or wavelengths of EM radiation.
  • The filters in this activity allow only certain colors, i.e., frequencies or wavelengths of EM radiation to be sensed by the device (the eyes). They absorb some wavelengths and permit others to pass through.

Prompt students to list other questions they have about color and how it relates to remote sensing.

  • This an opportunity to suggest further study to answer questions such as these. 
  • Objects often have a "signature" of wavelengths they reflect (similar to fingerprints).
  • Examining individual wavelengths or combinations of wavelengths can often bring out quantitative (numbers) detail in digital remote sensing images impossible to obtain from photographs. For more on the difference between digital images and photographs see: http://www.higp.hawaii.edu/~scott/rsens1.htm (scroll to the middle of the page).

Remind students to complete the Activity sheet: Reflection page (RSS-6) for this lesson in their student journals.

 

 

 

 

  

 

Student activity:

  • Students should complete Activity sheet: Defining the terms (RSS-4). Example definitions:
    • Array - an orderly arrangement or display
    • Spectrum - an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave, several colored and other rays of which light is composed
    • Spectrometer: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light
    • Electromagnetic (EM) - the transfer of energy by the rapid oscillations (vibrations back and forth) of electromagnetic fields, that travel in the form of electromagnetic waves. 
    • Radiation - the shooting forth of anything from a point or surface, like the diverging rays of light; as, the radiation of heat
    • EM spectrum - the range of frequencies (or wavelengths) over which EM radiation can be sent (propagated).
  • Participate in the activity Introduction To The Study of Remote Sensing. (http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/sge/jskiles/top-down/intro_to_rem_sen/intro_to_RS.html)

.Sample student responses:

  • The filters allow only certain colors to be sensed by the eyes.
  • This is similar to the AVIRIS sensors they are each sensitive to certain forms of EM radiation.

Sample student responses:

  • Why is it useful to use RS detectors that measure the amount of EM radiation present at each small portion of the spectrum as opposed to just measuring all EM radiation at all wavelengths combined into a single signal? 

Student activity:

Students complete the Activity sheet: Reflection page (RSS-6) for this lesson in their student journals.