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Ball Launcher cover showing an image of NASA's C-9 aircraft diving down to perform earth-based microgravity research.

Audience

Students

Grade Levels

Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12

Subject

Mathematics, Physical Science, Problem Solving, Flight and Aeronautics, Forces and Motion

Type

Lesson Plans / Activities

PROPULSION

Ball Launcher

Understand how NASA uses an aircraft to create a microgravity environment to train astronauts and test equipment before it is flown in space:

  • Understand the motion of a projectile under ideal (no air resistance) conditions
  • Apply basic kinematic equations [kinematics is the study of objects in motion] to the motion of a thrown tennis ball
  • Describe, draw, and calculate the approximate path of a thrown tennis ball under ideal conditions
  • Apply the information gained through these activities to the flight of a Understand how NASA uses an aircraft to create a microgravity environment to train astronauts and test equipment before it is flown in space
  • Gain an understanding to terminal velocity

Ball Launcher 5-12

Grade Level: 5-12

Time Required: 9 minutes

National Science Standards Addressed:

Science:

  • Communicate scientific data and/or information
  • Interpret scientific data and/or information
  • Make inferences, form generalized statement and/or make predictions
  • Draw conclusions about the process(es) and/or outcome(s) of a scientific investigation
  • Relate and apply scientific and technological info

Math:

  • Determine solution strategies and analyze or solve problems
  • Express or solve problems using mathematical representation
  • Evaluate the reasonableness of a solution to a problem situation

Topic: Kinematics, Projectiles, Motion, Terminal Velocity

This activity is part of the Museum in a Box Lessons