Exploring Space Teacher s Guide Grade Level: 5 9 Curriculum Focus: Science Lesson Duration: 5 class periods Program Description Exploring Space: (25 min.) Trace the development of modern rocketry from its beginnings in China more than a thousand years ago to Robert Goddard s invention of liquid fuel rockets and Germany's V-2 rockets. Explore the U.S.-U.S.S.R. space race and the post Cold War cooperation in space exploration. Discussion Questions What is Newton s third law of motion? How does friction affect rockets during liftoff, orbit, and reentry? What lessons have been learned from tragedies in the space program? How did the Cold War play a role in the advancement of rocket science? Lesson Plan Student Objectives Identify and discuss how Newton s third law of motion applies to rocket science. Analyze and explain the role that friction plays during liftoff, orbit, and reentry. Research and write a two-page report about one of the United States or Soviet space missions. Create a time line as part of a group presentation highlighting achievements of the U.S. and Soviet space programs. Materials Exploring Space video Computer with Internet access Print and Web resources about the U.S. and Soviet space programs Posterboard, 4 x 6 index cards, and markers for class presentations
2 Teacher s Guide Procedures 1. Before viewing the video, ask students what they know about the space race of the 1950s and 1960s. Which countries were involved? Explain how the political and ideological conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union fueled early space exploration. What do they think the perceived benefit would have been to the first country to put a human being into space? What would it have meant to be the first nation to put a human being on the moon? Inform the students that they will be watching a program on rockets and should pay close attention to the scientific principles behind rocket science, as well as the history of the U.S. and Soviet space programs. 2. After viewing the video, ask the class about the scientific principles behind rocket science. What is Newton s third law of motion? (For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.) Explain how the burning fuel in a rocket s combustion area pushes the rocket forward. Who was Robert Goddard? How did he revolutionize modern rocketry? Discuss answers from the video; Goddard wanted to build rockets powered by liquid fuel instead of solid fuel so the fuel output could be controlled. 3. Discuss how spacecraft maneuver when they leave the Earth s atmosphere and the importance of heat shields during a spacecraft s reentry. How does friction affect rockets during liftoff, orbit, and reentry? Why are heat shields so important to a spacecraft? Why is the angle of reentry so important? 4. Talk about the role that damaged heat shields played in the Columbia space shuttle disaster. Explain how the friction resulting from Columbia s reentry into Earth s atmosphere created temperatures so intense that without the full protection of undamaged heat shields the shuttle disintegrated. How do they think this tragedy could have been avoided? 5. What lessons have been learned from other tragedies in the space program? Discuss the fire that killed three astronauts aboard Apollo 1, as well as the Challenger disaster. Explain how engineers learned from Apollo 1 that flammable materials combined with an oxygen-rich environment were a recipe for disaster, particularly since the escape hatch proved too difficult for the trapped astronauts to open. Failure of a component called an O-ring caused the loss of the shuttle Challenger. 6. Ask the students if they are familiar with the near-disaster that occurred on Apollo 13, which was dramatized in the movie by the same name. What scientific principle saved the astronauts of Apollo 13? Explain how the marooned astronauts used the gravitational pull of the moon and the Earth to travel with minimal use of their rocket boosters. 7. Remind the class that the Soviets also experienced triumphs and tragedies during the space race. What role did the Cold War play in the advancement of rocket science? Discuss the immigration of German rocket scientists to the U.S. and Soviet Union after World War II and the fierce competition between the two countries to be the first to achieve certain milestones. 8. Later in the week, have the students write a two-page report on one of the U.S. or Soviet space missions, highlighting any milestones in space exploration, advances in technology, or important information gathered during the mission. Ask students to research their missions using print and Web resources. The following Web sites contain pertinent information. Published by Discovery Education. 2006. All rights reserved.
3 Teacher s Guide Space Race Exhibition (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum) www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal114/gal114.htm Space Race (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/space_race NASA History Division http://history.nasa.gov The History Channel Exhibits: Moonshots www.historychannel.com/exhibits/moonshots/timeline.html BBC Science and Nature (Space Exploration Timeline) www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/exploration/missiontimeline/index.shtml 9. For the second assignment, have students work in groups of three or four. Assign each group one decade, from the 1960s to the present. Have the groups research highlights of the U.S. and Soviet space programs in their assigned decade. Each group will then contribute to a class presentation on the topic. Groups studying more recent achievements can expand their research to include other nations that have sent their citizens into space. Assessment Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students work during this lesson. Vocabulary 3 points: Students produced a complete report and fully contributed to the group presentation; included all of the requested information in the report and group presentation; accurately cited three interesting, relevant points in their report and during their portion of the group presentation. 2 points: Students produced an adequate report and made some contributions to the group presentation; included most of the requested information in the report and group presentation; satisfactorily cited two relevant points in their report and during their portion of the group presentation. 1 point: Students created an incomplete report and contributed little or nothing to the group presentation; included little or none of the requested information; did not include any interesting, relevant points in their report or during their portion of the group presentation. atmosphere Definition: A mass of gases surrounding a heavenly body, such as a planet Context: Since space has no atmosphere, astronauts must use pressurized spacesuits. Published by Discovery Education. 2006. All rights reserved.
4 Teacher s Guide booster Definition: The first stage of a multistage rocket, providing force for the launch and the first part of the flight Context: After the fuel in the booster rockets is used up, the boosters detach from the spacecraft and fall back to Earth. capsule Definition: A compartment of a spacecraft that accommodates the astronauts with nearly normal atmospheric pressure Context: The Apollo 13 astronauts had to use the lunar module as a lifeboat when an explosion damaged their capsule shortly after liftoff. centrifuge Definition: A machine using centrifugal force to cause gravitational effects Context: The Mercury Seven astronauts were placed in giant centrifuges so scientists could measure how the human body would handle the gravitational force of liftoff. combustion Definition: The act or instance of burning Context: Liquid fuel rockets allow for combustion without burning all the fuel at once. dock Definition: To join two spacecraft mechanically while in space Context: The docking of the Soyuz and Apollo capsules was a historic moment because until then the United States and the Soviet Union had been rivals in the space race. friction Definition: The force that resists motion between bodies in contact Context: The friction created during reentry can destroy a spacecraft if its heat shields have been damaged. g-force Definition: Gravitational force, a unit of force equal to that exerted by gravity Context: At a g-force of 2 Gs, a 150-pound person weighs 300 pounds. satellite Definition: A object or vehicle that orbits the Earth, the moon, or another heavenly body Context: The space race between the United States and the U.S.S.R. was initiated in 1957, when the Soviets successfully launched a satellite called Sputnik into Earth orbit. Published by Discovery Education. 2006. All rights reserved.
5 Teacher s Guide Academic Standards Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) McREL s Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K 12 Education addresses 14 content areas. To view the standards and benchmarks, visit www.mcrel.org/compendium/browse.asp. This program addresses the following national standards. Science Nature of Science: Understands the nature of scientific knowledge; Understands the nature of scientific inquiry; Understands the scientific enterprise. Science Physical Science: Understands forces and motion. Language Arts Writing: Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process; Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing; Gathers and uses information for research purposes. Language Arts Viewing: Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media. Life Skills Working with Others: Contributes to the overall efforts of a group. National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences provides guidelines for teaching science in grades K 12 to promote scientific literacy. To view the standards, visit http://books.nap.edu/html/nses/html/overview.html#content. This lesson plan addresses the following national standards. Science and technology: Abilities of technological design; Understandings about science and technology. Science in personal and social perspective: Science and technology in society. History and nature of science: Science as a human endeavor; Nature of science; History of science. Published by Discovery Education. 2006. All rights reserved.
6 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 1 Pretest Name Directions: Answer the following questions in the space provided. 1. What is a space walk? 2. What difficulties are associated with space travel? 3. What is Newton s Third Law of Motion? 4. Which country developed V-2 rockets during World War II? How were these rockets important? 5. Who is known as the father of rocketry? 6. How is the space shuttle different from the Saturn 5 rocket? 7. How are solid fuel and liquid fuel rockets different? 8. How do astronauts turn and maneuver capsules while in space? 9. Why do space vehicles have heat shields for reentry into the Earth s atmosphere? 10. In outer space the astronauts can turn the rocket engine off and still continue to travel at their current speed. How is this possible?
7 Name EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 2 Program Quiz 1. What country s rocket program became the basis for the space programs of the United States and the U.S.S.R.? 2. What must spacesuits supply to protect astronauts or cosmonauts when they are away from the Earth s protective atmosphere? 3. Why do astronauts working on the moon bounce around so effortlessly? 4. What is the third law of motion proposed by Isaac Newton? 5. How is it possible that the engines of a spacecraft can be turned off and the vehicle continue to move forward at the same speed?
8 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 3 Vocabulary Name Directions: Pick the definition in column II that best matches the word in column I. Write the letter of the definition on the blank line. I 1. space walk 2. docking 3. third law of motion 4. Robert Goddard 5. Isaac Newton 6. Alan Shepard 7. Yuri Gargarin 8. Ed White 9. Saturn 5 10. solid fuel rocket 11. liquid fuel rocket 12. V-2 rocket 13. Sputnik 14. lunar rover 15. Skylab II a. first human sent into space and first to orbit the Earth b. for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. c. first American to walk in space d. huge three-stage rocket used to send astronauts to the moon e. to leave the capsule while in space f. first satellite to orbit the Earth g. the father of rocketry h. vehicle that could carry two astronauts around on the moon i. German rockets developed during World War II j. to have two space capsules join together k. Once this rocket ignites there is no way to turn it off. l. famous scientist who established the laws of motion over 300 years ago m. rocket engine that can be controlled n. first U.S. space laboratory o. first American sent into space
9 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 4 Outer Space Conditions Name Beyond the atmosphere of our planet is outer space. The conditions in outer space are very harsh. Spacesuits and spacecraft must provide protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation as well as the basic life-support needs of humans. Here are some of the conditions of outer space. The vacuum of space means there are no gases present. This means that the gases required by the astronauts must be carried within the spacecraft and spacesuits. There is no pressure in space. On Earth we are subjected to air pressure all the time. Air pressure on Earth is 14.7 pounds per square inch. Spacecraft and spacesuits must be pressurized to protect the astronauts. Temperatures in outer space vary tremendously. Temperatures on the side of a planet or spacecraft facing the sun can be as high as 120 degrees Celsius. The shaded side can be as low as minus 100 degrees Celsius. The sun gives off a constant flow of damaging rays of radiation. Exposure to these rays damages living cells. Assignment: Write a paper about the conditions in outer space and how astronauts are protected from hazards as well as provided with the means to stay alive. Use a separate sheet of paper.
10 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 5 The Space Shuttle and Saturn 5 Name Directions: Compare the Saturn 5 rocket used to send astronauts to the moon with the space shuttle. How are they different?
11 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 6 Space Station Name Life in space is very different from life on Earth. Directions: Write a story about living on a space station in orbit around the Earth. What hardships would you face? How would normal activities be different in space? What are some of the exciting things that you can do in a weightless environment?
EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 7 Capsules 12 Name The space capsules used for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions were very small and confining. The space available to the travelers was often no larger than a small closet. Directions: Imagine you are one of these early space pioneers. What would it be like to stay in such a small space for hours and days at a time? How is the space capsule controlled? How is it turned? How do the astronauts reduce the space capsule s speed for reentry into the Earth s atmosphere?
EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 8 Moon Flight 13 Name The Apollo missions to the moon were very complicated. The Saturn 5 rocket was as tall as a 40- story building and as powerful as 85 hydroelectric power plants. The three-stage rocket was designed to safely propel the three astronauts to the moon and back again. All their needs (oxygen, food, pressure) had to be carried aboard the spacecraft. Directions: On a separate sheet of paper describe what is happening at the numbered spots on the diagram of a moon launch shown below. 1 2 3 4 5 7 6
14 Name EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 9 The Space Race During the 1950s and 1960s the Russians concentrated on being first to orbit a satellite. first to orbit an animal. first to send a man into space. first to send a woman into space. first to send two people in the same capsule. first to send two capsules into orbit at the same time. first to dock, or join, two orbiting capsules. first to walk in space. first to send an unmanned space vehicle to the moon. first to take pictures of the far side of the moon. For many years the Russian space program led the way with a long list of accomplishments. This era was known as the space race. 1. Why do you think the two super powers the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a race to be first at accomplishing the milestones listed above? 2. In the eyes of the world, which country seemed to be winning the space race and why was this important to them? 3. How are things different today where cooperation and assistance between countries in the exploration of space are concerned?
15 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 10 Spaceship Earth Name The Earth is in constant motion. As residents of this planet, we seldom realize or appreciate the tremendous speed at which Earth is traveling through space. We orbit the sun at a speed of 109,500 km per hour. The sun and its planets travel in orbit around the center of our galaxy at the speed of 250 km per second. The entire galaxy is moving through the universe at the speed of 600 km per second. If we combine all this motion, it works out to about 900 km per second. That is an incredible speed. Directions: We might think of our planet as a huge spaceship traveling at fantastic speeds through the universe. What does planet Earth do to meet our needs? We must be protected from harmful rays from the sun and from space debris such as meteoroids, and, of course, we need certain things for life support. Write an essay about the way Spaceship Earth provides for our needs and protects us from the dangers of space travel.
16 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 11 Partial Vacuum Name The air of our atmosphere presses down on the Earth with an air pressure of almost 15 pounds per square inch. We are accustomed to this pressure and it strikes us from all directions. Purpose: Materials: This experiment will demonstrate the power of air pressure. empty metal container (ditto fluid or other 1-gallon can) hot plate water oven mitt Procedures: 1. Pour some water into the can (about 2 cm deep). 2. Place the can on the hot plate and remove the screw top cap from the can. 3. Heat the water in the can so that it boils. You should see steam escaping from the can. 4. Using the oven mitt, carefully take the can off the hot plate and screw the cap on. Then quickly place the can under a stream of cold water or into a bath of ice water. Observations: What happens when the can is placed in the cold water? Conclusions: 1. Describe what happened inside the can when the water was boiling, when it was capped, and when the cold water was poured over the can. 2. Explain why the can collapsed when the cold water was poured over it.
17 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Master 12 Posttest Name Directions: Answer the following questions in the space provided. 1. There are two kinds of rockets solid fuel and liquid fuel. How are they different from each other? 2. The booster rockets on the space shuttle are solid fuel engines but the main shuttle engines are liquid fuel. Why? 3. Which United States president made a speech to Congress challenging our country to send a man safely to the moon? 4. Who was the U.S. scientist considered to be the father of rocketry? 5. The space program for the U. S. and the former U.S.S.R. actually started after World War II. At that time each of these countries captured V-2 rocket parts and scientists from what nation? 6. What is a space walk? 7. What conditions in outer space make space travel difficult? 8. work because of Newton s Third Law of Motion. What is that law? 9. What does it mean to dock in space? 10. What problems are associated with weightlessness in outer space?
18 EXPLORING SPACE Blackline Masters Answer Key Blackline Master 1 Answer Key Pretest 1. What is a space walk? The term space walk describes the activity of an astronaut or cosmonaut who leaves the space capsule or spacecraft to move about the outside of the vehicle. 2. What difficulties are associated with space travel? Space has no oxygen to breathe. There is no air pressure or atmosphere. Our bodies are accustomed to 14.7 pounds per square inch of air pressure. Temperatures are extreme in space. There is dangerous radiation given off by the sun. 3. What is Newton s Third Law of Motion? For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. 4. Which country developed V-2 rockets during World War II? How were these rockets important? Germany invented the V-2 rockets during World War II. These were the first large-scale successful liquid fuel rockets. Captured German scientists and V-2 rockets formed the basis of the space programs for the United States and the Soviet Union. 5. Who is known as the father of rocketry? The American Robert Goddard was known as the father of rocketry for his advances in liquid fuel rocket design. 6. How is the space shuttle different from the Saturn 5 rocket? The space shuttle is intended to be used over and over again for low to medium altitude trips into Earth orbit. Everything is recovered and reused except for the fuel tank. The Saturn 5 rocket was built for one purpose, to get astronauts to the moon and back safely. Only the space capsule was recovered. 7. How are solid fuel and liquid fuel rockets different? A solid fuel rocket engine will burn all of its fuel once it is ignited. There is no stopping it. A liquid fuel rocket engine can be controlled by adjusting the amount of fuel, so it can be turned off and restarted. 8. How do astronauts turn and maneuver capsules while in space? On the sides of a capsule are small jets, which can be used to turn the capsule in any direction. When astronauts release gases out of these jets the capsule moves in the opposite direction.
19 9. Why do space vehicles have heat shields for reentry into the Earth s atmosphere? The heat shield is used to protect the space vehicle. During reentry the friction between the speeding vehicle and the atmosphere builds up causing a tremendous increase in heat. Without the heat shield the capsule would burn up like a meteor. 10. In outer space the astronauts can turn the rocket engine off and still continue to travel at their current speed. How is this possible? There are no gases in outer space to slow the vehicle down, so the space capsule continues at the speed it has reached. Blackline Master 2 Answer Key Program Quiz 1. What country s rocket program became the basis for the space programs of the United States and the U.S.S.R.? The German rocket program developed during World War II became the basis for the space programs in the United States and the U.S.S.R. 2. What must spacesuits supply to protect astronauts or cosmonauts when they are away from the Earth s protective atmosphere? Spacesuits have to supply oxygen, a comfortable temperature, air pressure, and protection from harmful rays released by the sun. 3. Why do astronauts working on the moon bounce around so effortlessly? The moon only has 1/6 the gravity of Earth, so astronauts bounce around easily. 4. What is the third law of motion proposed by Isaac Newton? For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. 5. How is it possible that the engines of a spacecraft can be turned off and the vehicle will continue to move forward at the same speed? In space there is no atmosphere with gases to slow down a moving object. So even with the engine off the space vehicle continues to travel at its current speed.
20 Blackline Master 3 Answer Key Vocabulary 1. space walk e 2. docking j 3. third law of motion b 4. Robert Goddard g 5. Isaac Newton l 6. Alan Shepard o 7. Yuri Gargarin a 8. Ed White c 9. Saturn 5 d 10. solid fuel rocket k 11. liquid fuel rocket m 12. V-2 rocket i 13. Sputnik f 14. lunar rover h 15. Skylab n Blackline Master 4 Answer Key Outer Space Conditions Contents and conclusions of students papers will vary.
21 Blackline Master 5 Answer Key The Space Shuttle and Saturn 5 Compare the Saturn 5 rocket used to send astronauts to the moon with the space shuttle. How are they different? The space shuttle is intended to be used over and over again for low to medium altitude trips into Earth orbit. Everything is recovered and reused except for the fuel tank. The Saturn 5 rocket was built for one purpose, to get astronauts to the moon and back safely. Only the space capsule was recovered. Students space station stories will vary. Blackline Master 6 Answer Key Space Station Blackline Master 7 Answer Key Capsules Imagine you are one of these early space pioneers. What would it be like to stay in such a small space for hours and days at a time? Answers will vary. How is the space capsule controlled? How is it turned? The space capsule is turned and controlled by small jets on its sides. Gas is shot out a jet and the capsule responds in the opposite direction. How do the astronauts reduce the space capsule s speed for reentry into the Earth s atmosphere? The astronauts turn the capsule so that the retro-rocket engine on its underside is facing forward. The retro-rocket makes contact with the atmosphere first. The retro-rocket engine is fired in the direction that the capsule is heading. This reduces the capsule s speed.
22 Blackline Master 8 Answer Key Moon Flight 1. The third stage lifts the astronauts into orbit around the Earth. 2. The third stage engine is fired again to break out of Earth orbit and head for the moon. 3. The third stage engine is turned off and the command module disconnects and moves away. 4. The command module turns around and docks with the lunar lander, which is inside the top part of the third stage. The lunar lander is removed. 5. The command module and lunar lander continue to the moon. 6. Once in orbit around the moon, two astronauts move into the lunar lander and detach from the command module. They use rockets on the lunar lander to reduce their descent and to land on the surface of the moon. One astronaut stays in the command module orbiting the moon. 7. Astronauts explore the moon and set up experiments. When it is time to leave, they climb back into the lunar lander and blast off from the surface using the bottom of the lunar lander as a launch pad. They meet up and dock with the command module. Blackline Master 9 Answer Key The Space Race 1. Why do you think the two super powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, were engaged in a race to be first at accomplishing the milestones listed above? These two super powers were constantly in competition with each other. To be first at conquering space would impress other countries. Each of the super powers wanted to be considered the most powerful country in the world. 2. In the eyes of the world, which country seemed to be winning the space race and why was this important to them? For many years during the space race it appeared that the Soviet Union was leading the way. They wanted the world to regard their scientists as the best on Earth.
23 3. How are things different today as far as cooperation and assistance between countries in the exploration of space? Today there is much more cooperation in the exploration of space. It is too expensive for one country to explore space on its own. The International Space Station is an example of many nations working together to build a laboratory and habitat in Earth orbit. Answers might include the following. Blackline Master 10 Answer Key Spaceship Earth Earth s atmosphere protects us from harmful rays from the sun and meteors from outer space. The space rocks and metals that fall into our atmosphere burn up because of the friction between the debris and the atmospheric gases. Earth recycles water, gases and nutrients so that there is always a supply of oxygen and water for our survival. Blackline Master 11 Answer Key Partial Vacuum 1. Describe what happened inside the can when the water was boiling, when it was capped, and when the cold water was poured over the can. When the can was on the hot plate, the water inside began to boil. Some of the water turned to steam, taking up much of the space inside the can. When the can was taken off the hot plate and capped, the steam was trapped inside. When the can had cold water poured onto it, the steam changed from a gas to a liquid. Steam takes up more space than does liquid, so the pressure inside the can was reduced. The outside pressure around the can crushed the can in an attempt to balance the pressure inside and outside the can. 2. Explain why the can collapsed when the cold water was poured over it. The cold water lowered the temperature of the steam inside the can. When the temperature of the steam was lowered, it changed back to liquid water. The steam had occupied a lot of room in the can, but now it was a liquid again and it didn t occupy as much space. The outside air pressure crushed the can in an attempt to fill this empty space.
24 Blackline Master 12 Answer Key Posttest 1. There are two kinds of rockets solid fuel and liquid fuel. How are they different from each other? Once a solid fuel rocket is ignited it can t be stopped until all the fuel is gone. A liquid fuel rocket can be controlled. It can be stopped and restarted and the amount of fuel can be regulated so that the power of the rocket is controlled. 2. The booster rockets on the space shuttle are solid fuel engines but the main shuttle engines are liquid fuel. Why? Liquid fuel engines are used as the main engines for the space shuttle because this type of engine can be controlled. 3. Which United States president made a speech to congress challenging our country to send a man safely to the moon? John F. Kennedy 4. Who was the American scientist considered to be the father of rocketry? Robert Goddard 5. The space program for the United States and the former U.S.S.R. actually started after World War II. At that time each of these countries captured V-2 rocket parts and scientists from what nation? Germany 6. What is a space walk? The term space walk describes the activity of an astronaut or cosmonaut leaving the space capsule and moving around outside. 7. What conditions in outer space make space travel difficult? There is no oxygen or food. Radiation from the sun is very dangerous. Temperatures are extreme. 8. work because of Newton s Third Law of Motion. What is that law? For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. 9. What does it mean to dock in space? When two spacecraft join and connect that is called a docking. 10. What problems are associated with weightlessness in outer space? Weightlessness can cause problems with food. Crumbs can float around and get into equipment. Normal tools such as wrenches and hammers don t work well in a weightless environment. New tools had to be designed for space. In a weightless environment it is very important that astronauts and cosmonauts exercise to keep their bodies in good shape.