Title: High school black hole mass exploration activity
Authors: Jizreel Pereira da Silva
Volume: 9
Issue: 7
Pages: 113-116
Publication Date: 2025/07/28
Abstract:
This paper presents a pedagogical experiment developed with a third-grade high school class, focused on exploring the relationship between the mass and radius of black holes. The activity was based on NASA's educational material "Black Hole Math" and aimed to make advanced astrophysics concepts accessible to high school students through simple mathematical approaches. The students worked with tabular data relating to the mass and radius of hypothetical black holes, constructed linear graphs, and developed mathematical equations to describe these relationships. The methodology employed demonstrated that complex concepts of modern physics can be effectively taught in high school when presented through hands-on activities and elementary mathematics. The results indicated a significant improvement in students' understanding of the fundamental properties of black holes, and the experiment demonstrated that astronomy could serve as a motivating tool for teaching physics and mathematics, providing students with a tangible connection between theoretical concepts and real cosmic phenomena.