Impact Resistance Tester

One of the hazards of spacewalking is the presence of small high-speed particles. These particles, called micrometeoroids, are usually smaller than a grain of sand, have a mass that is only a fraction of a gram, and can travel at speeds up to 80 kilometers per second. An astronaut struck by a micrometeoroid could be severely injured. As a consequence, spacesuits have to be constructed from materials that are resistant to impacts. Students will test the effects of impact on various materials. They will also calculate the velocity and kinetic energy of the impactor. The activity includes a list of materials and a diagram to build the test stand.
Impact Resistance Tester Activity [751KB PDF file]
This document is part of the Suited for Spacewalking Educator Guide.

Please note that on the second page of the activity, the mathematical equation, “t equals sqrt(2d) divided by g”, should be “t equals sqrt(2d divided by g)”.