National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ares: Launch and Propulsion An Educator Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics Educational Product Educators Grades 5 – 12 EP-2009-02-32-MSFC Ares: Launch and Propulsion: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics Table of Contents Overview: Science Module . v Rocket Principles . viii Practical Rocketry . xii Teacher Guide: Pop Rocket Variables . 1 Student Activity: Pop Rocket Variables . 6 Student Text: Variables and Operational Definitions . 12 Teacher Guide: Pop Goes Newton . 15 Student Activity: Pop Goes Newton . 17 Student Text: Newton’s Laws of Motion and Rockets . 21 Teacher Guide: The History of Rocketry . 25 Teacher Guide: Launching Ares . 27 Student Text: From Earth to the Moon and Beyond . 34 Student Activity: Ground Challenge . 43 Student Activity: Moon Challenge . 47 Teacher Guide: Investigating Water Rockets: Abbreviated Approach . 51 Teacher Guide: Investigating Water Rockets: Comprehensive Approach . 55 Student Activity: Measuring Altitude . 62 Student Activity: What a Drag! . 65 Student Activity: Flying Straight . 68 Student Activity: Investigating Fin Shape or Size . 72 Student Activity: Investigating Fin Number and Placement . 78 Student Activity: Fly Like an Eagle . 81 Student Activity: Altitude vs. Water Volume . 84 Student Activity: Altitude vs. Water Pressure . 87 Student Activity: Weather or Not . 90 Teacher Guide: Fly Me High . 93 Student Activity: Fly Me High . 97 Teacher Guide: You Get What You Pay For . 103 Student Activity: You Get What You Pay For . 105 Appendix A: Example of a Completed Concept Definition Map . 108 Appendix B: Optional Activity . 109 Appendix C: Possible Options for the Ground Challenge . 110 Appendix D: Label Templates for Available Vehicles . 112 Appendix E: Templates for Representing Equipment and Supplies . 113 i Ares: Launch and Propulsion: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics Appendix F: Building a Bottle Rocket . 115 Appendix G: Water Bottle Rocket Launcher . 116 Appendix H: Transcripts . 119 Appendix I: NASA Altitude Tracker . 123 Appendix J: Safety Rules . 124 Appendix K: Safety Checklist . 126 Appendix L: Nose Cone Pattern . 127 Appendix M: Materials List . 128 Bibliography . 132 ii Ares: Launch and Propulsion: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics *This Educator Guide uses Traditional U.S. units of measure as the standard. Metric units follow in (parenthesis). In cases when a given formula is traditionally calculated in metric units, for mathematical correctness, it is presented in that manner. NOTE: The Ares vehicles are a preliminary design configuration and will be subject to change as the design progresses. The information in this document was accurate as of the original publication date. Ares Communications Coordinator: Twila Schneider, Marshall Space Flight Center, Schafer Corporation . Ares Communications Strategist: Stephanie Wilson, Marshall Space Flight Center, Schafer Corporation . Writers: John Ristvey, McREL, Dr . Donna Bogner, McREL . Contributing Writer: Deb Aruca, McREL . Graphics: Judy Counley, McREL, Jennie Mitchell, Marshall Space Flight Center . Layout: Lisa Maxfield, McREL . Technical Editor (Original Module): Jacinta Behne, McREL . Editor: Regina Garson, Marshall Space Flight Center . Special thanks to: Kristen Walsh at Boeing for her interview on conducting a launch campaign and launching a rocket . Bob Armstrong and Joel Best from the Marshall Space Flight Center for their interviews on Ares . Special thanks to the following reviewers from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Melissa Higdon Kristy Hill Bart Leahy Sanda Martel Miranda Martin Dawn Mercer Chuck Pierce Steve Roy Erin Shoemate Mike Wright Additional Reviewers (original module): r D . Gil Yanow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory r D . Dean Eppler, NASA Johnson Space Center Mark Rose, Maplewood Junior/Senior High, PA r D . Donna Bogner, McREL Jacinta Behne, McREL Pat McCartney, McREL This education module, Ares: Launch and Propulsion, was originally developed by educators at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) . iii Ares: Launch and Propulsion: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics iv Ares: Launch and Propulsion: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics Ares: Launch and Propulsion An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics Overview: Science Module Introduction In Ares: Launch and Propulsion, students become familiar with how rockets are launched. They also learn how and why specific rockets are chosen for various payloads. This module gives students a hands-on opportunity to experiment with variables that might affect the performance of a launch vehicle. Working in teams, students inves- tigate one variable in detail by performing tests. By completing these tests, students will learn the various aspects involved in launching a rocket. In the assessment, students engage in a competition wherein they apply what they have learned about rockets to build a launch vehicle that flies as high as possible. Curriculum Connections This module contains fourteen hands-on activities for students. Through effective questioning, teachers facilitate students developing awareness of Newton’s Laws of Motion as they apply to rockets. Correlations to National Standards are noted for each activity. Teacher Guide Descriptions Pop Rocket Variables: In this introductory activity, students study the concept of variables in relationship to launching pop rockets. Students will complete a concept map to demonstrate their knowledge of rockets. Pop Goes Newton: Students continue to study the concept of variables in relation to launching pop rockets. The lesson has the students applying each of Newton’s Laws of Motion to the “Pop Rocket Variable” activity. The History of Rocketry: In this activity, students create a multiple tiered timeline on the history of rocketry from ancient times through the Ares Projects. Launching Ares: The student activities in the “Launching Ares” section can be used to create interest in why the Ares missions are critical for returning to the Moon. Students work in groups to determine how to transport construction items and determine the payload and sequence for the transportation. Investigating Water Rockets: In both the abbreviated and comprehensive approach students will get a complete overview of the safety issues with building and launching rockets. Students will complete activities on measuring altitude, fin shape and size, propulsion, and more. Fly Me High: During this performance assessment, students will work in their design groups to design, build, and test launch a water rocket. Students will share their findings with the rest of the class. You Get What You Pay For: This optional activity incorporates an economic component into the module. Students will be given a budget of $150,000 to spend on subcontractors and materials for construction. Role of Student Students will work in teams to learn about various aspects of launching a water rocket related to propulsion. Students will investigate the shape, size, number, and placement of fins, as well as the nose cone shapes. Students then take the information learned in the expert groups back to their design group in order to design and build a water rocket that will fly as high as possible. Overview: Science Module v Ares: Launch and Propulsion: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics Multimedia Files NASA Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle: Video with Bob Armstrong . NASA Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle: Video with Bob Armstrong . Why Two Rockets? Video with Bob Armstrong . Getting Ready for Launch: Video with Joel Best . Why Go to the Moon? Video with Joel Best . Launch Period vs . Launch Window: Audio with Kris Walsh . Mission Integration Managers: Audio with Kris Walsh . The multimedia files were developed especially for this module and are to be used as background information for the teacher and in conjunction with the classroom lessons . They can be downloaded along with the module . The video segments are also available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/ares_education.html Interaction/Synthesis In this phase of the learning cycle, student/peer interactions are emphasized . These activities contain work to be done in expert groups, with the whole class participating in the safety rules found in the appendices . Once students have had time to explore the rocket variables in these activities, they return to their original design groups to build and test their water rockets . Teachers have two options for implementing this Interaction/Synthesis activity: a comprehensive version in which each design (expert) team studies different variables and a more abbreviated version with fewer variables to inves- tigate, some of which are studied collectively as a class, thereby requiring less class time and teacher preparation . The following synopsis of the two approaches will enable teachers to choose what best meets their needs . Interaction/Synthesis Assessment Comprehensive Approach Abbreviated Approach Safety Rules/Safety Checklist Yes Yes Measuring Altitude Yes Yes Nose Cone Group Yes No (While the nose cone is not tested, it should be constructed for the final assessment) Fin Number and Placement Yes No Fin Shape and Size Yes Yes Volume of Water Yes Yes Individually in expert groups As a class Pressure of Water Yes No Weather or Not Yes No You Get What You Pay For Optional No Fly Me