Toys In Space Lesson 1 of 2

Transcription

1 Lesson 1 of 2 Grade Level: 9-12 Subject(s): Physical Science, Space Science Prep Time: < 10 minutes Activity Duration: 50 minutes Materials Category: Special requirements Science 3d, 3f National Education Standards Mathematics Technology ISTE ITEA Geography Objective: To explain how gravity and the lack of gravity affects the operation of toys. Materials: Toys in Space class video 15 storage boxes with assorted toys: Wind-up toy Spring jumper Rattleback Klacker balls Ball and cup Coiled metal spring Yo-Yo Related Link(s): Toys In Space II Video Resource Guide s.in.space.ii/ Liftoff to Learning Toys in Space II Video Tape Page 1 of 3

2 Background The STS-54 shuttle crew took 10 toys with them to demonstrate how mechanical objects perform differently in a microgravity environment. Students will discover that gravitational forces are critical for the operation of some devices, yet the laws of motion still apply in space: 1. An object at rest or in motion will remain at rest or in motion unless acted on by a force. 2. An object will change what it s doing just as much as it is pushed or pulled, and it will change in the direction of the push or pull. 3. When an object gets pushed, it pushes back just as hard. Guidelines 1. Distribute a set of toys to each pair of students. 2. Give the students about 3 minutes to try each toy. Then, ask the students to predict how the toy will act in space where there is very little gravity. 3. Have students watch the video sequence on microgravity. Gravity is the force that pulls on us and keeps us on the Earth. A place that experiences microgravity has less gravity than Earth. Discuss the differences between the way gravity affects us on Earth and how microgravity affects astronauts in space. (On Earth: gravity keeps us on the Earth, makes things fall, etc.) In space: it makes things float; everyday tasks must be done differently (drink with a straw, using the restroom, sleeping, etc.). 4. End with the students coming up with reasons about why the toys act differently in the microgravity environment than they do here on Earth. Discussion / Wrap-up Wind Up Toy On Earth, a wind-up toy flips over and over. In space on the STS-54, a wind-up Rat Stuff toy flipped successfully out of Astronaut Helms hand but did not return. When Rat Stuff was taped to a notebook, his kicking feet had no effect on the heavier book. Rat Stuff also flew on the Shuttle in In the 1985 flight, Rat Stuff was held with a small amount of velcro. (Concept Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion ) Page 2 of 3

3 Spring Jumper When the spring was released by the suction cup, the jumper jumped out of Commander Casper s hand. The jumper traveled in a straight line. It could be deployed with its stand or its head touching Astronaut Casper s hand. (Concept Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion) Rattleback In space, a rattleback spins in all directions equally well. It does not have to change the orientation of its axis as it swings around in circles. (Concept Conservation of Angular Momentum) Klacker Balls The klacker's motion where the balls hit on the top and bottom could be done in space. The circular motion where you hit the ball at the bottom of each circle could not be mastered in space. There was no force to hold the ball down at the bottom of the circle, and it kept circling the handle with the other ball. When taped open and spun by twisting each ball in the same direction, the klacker's balls and handle swung around the center of mass. (Concept Conservation of Angular Momentum and Newton s Third Law of Motion) Ball and Cup Although several attempts were made to capture the ball in the cup, the ball would always bounce away. The ball also could not be thrown into the floating cup. On Earth, gravity acts on the ball and makes it follow a curved path. Once the ball is in the cup, gravity keeps it there. (Concept Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion) Coiled Metal Spring In the experiments conducted with the coiled spring in space, the spring functioned very much like it does on Earth. (Concept Wave Motion) Yo-Yos On April 12, 1985, NASA took the first yo-yo into space on the space shuttle Discovery. The yo-yo was used as an experiment to test the effects of microgravity. The scientists discovered that the yo-yo had to be thrown down because there was no gravity to pull it down and that the yo- yo flowed easily along the string. There was no gravity, so the yoyo could not spin at the end of the loop. On July 31, 1992, a yo-yo called the SB-2 returned to space on the space shuttle Atlantis for an educational video demonstrating slow-motion yo-yo play. (Concept Gravitational Force) Extension(s) None Page 3 of 3

4 Student Sheet(s) Procedure Follow the procedure for each toy. Write down your observations for each toy and answer the questions on your own paper. For each describe how you think the toy would behave in space. Wind Up Toy Wind up the toy and let it jump on a flat surface. How high did it jump? Spring Jumper See what happens when you compress the Spring Jumper and release it on different surfaces, such as a hard flat level table, a carpeted floor, a very soft level pillow, and your hand. When the spring releases, the jumper presses down on the surface below it. Which surface pushes back harder on the jumper? Which surface absorbs more of the jumper s push? Does the jumper always go the same direction? If not, can you explain why it changes direction? Rattleback Set the rattleback on a flat, smooth surface with the curved side down. Gently push on one tip. What happens to the rattleback? Does it turn clockwise or counterclockwise? Push down on the other tip, and see how it spins. Set your rattleback on a flat smooth surface, and spin it counterclockwise. How many turns does it make before stopping? Now, spin the rattleback in a clockwise direction. How many turns does it make before stopping? How does it behave just before it stops? What happens after it stops? If spinning the rattleback clockwise causes it to rock, can you explain why it changes direction of spin? Would these changes happen in space? Student Sheets Page 1 of 2

5 Klacker Balls Hold the two balls horizontally on either side of the handle. Drop the balls at the same time. As they hit, move the handle upward. When they hit on top, move the handle downward. Do the klacker balls remain on the same side of the handle, or do they change sides? Hold one ball above the handle, and let the other one hang below. Release the top ball. As it swings down, it will hit the lower ball. With a small turn of the paddle, you can get the moving ball to circle the handle and hit the other ball. Ball and Cup A ball and cup can be made from a stick, small paper cup, thumbtack, string, and ball. Attach the cup to the end of the stick by pressing a thumbtack through the cup's bottom into the wood. Attach a small ball to one end of the string by "stitching" with an upholstery needle. Tie the other end of the string to the stick. Hold the cup in one hand. Use a scooping motion to swing the ball upward. Try to catch the ball in the cup. What keeps the ball in the cup after it is caught? Coiled Metal Spring Stretch out your coiled spring between your hands. Then, move one hand back and forth, pushing in and pulling out on the coiled spring. Watch the compression waves travel along the spring. Yo-Yos Operate the yo-yos paying attention to the actions you take to make them work. Explain what you do to start the yo-yo and what the yo-yo gains from this. Describe the energy flow as the yo-yo moves up and down. How does the motion change with different sized yo-yos? Review Questions 1. Do the laws of motion apply in space? 2. What would spilled milk look like in space? Student Sheets Page 2 of 2