Lesson plan
Space physics
Space physics, also known as space plasma physics, is the study of naturally occurring plasmas within Earth's upper atmosphere and the rest of the Solar System. It includes the topics of aeronomy, aurorae, planetary ionospheres and magnetospheres, radiation belts, space weather, solar wind, the Sun, and more recently the Interstellar medium. Space physics is both a pure science and an applied science, with applications in radio transmission, spacecraft operations (particularly communications and weather satellites), and in meteorology. Important physical processes in space physics include magnetic reconnection, plasma waves and plasma instabilities. It is studied using direct in situ measurements by sounding rockets and spacecraft, indirect remote sensing of plasmas with radar (through methods such as Incoherent scatter and GPS scintillation), and theoretical studies using models such as magnetohydrodynamics (fluid theory), or kinetic theory. Closely related fields include plasma physics, which studies more fundamental physics, laboratory plasmas and fusion plasmas; atmospheric physics and atmospheric chemistry, which investigate the upper levels of Earth's atmosphere; and astrophysical plasmas, which are natural plasmas beyond the Solar System.
Article summary
Space physics, also known as space plasma physics, is the study of naturally occurring plasmas within Earth's upper atmosphere and the rest of the Solar System. It includes the topics of aeronomy, aurorae, planetary ionospheres and magnetospheres, radiation belts, space weather, solar wind, the Sun, and more recently the Interstellar medium. Space physics is both a pure science and an applied science, with applications in radio transmission, spacecraft operations (particularly communications and weather satellites), and in meteorology. Important physical processes in space physics include magnetic reconnection, plasma waves and plasma instabilities. It is studied using direct in situ measurements by sounding rockets and spacecraft, indirect remote sensing of plasmas with radar (through methods such as Incoherent scatter and GPS scintillation), and theoretical studies using models such as magnetohydrodynamics (fluid theory), or kinetic theory. Closely related fields include plasma physics, which studies more fundamental physics, laboratory plasmas and fusion plasmas; atmospheric physics and atmospheric chemistry, which investigate the upper levels of Earth's atmosphere; and astrophysical plasmas, which are natural plasmas beyond the Solar System.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.