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
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