Laws of Motion - page 3
ACTIVITIES on Gravity Applications
*Basics of Space Flight Learner's Workbook Chapter 4, 5 - online activity*
Read chapter 4 on Interplanetary Trajectories and chapter 5 on Planetary Orbits from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory training Manual and turn in the recap questions and answers. This book is also available as a download.
Does the Moon orbit earth or does Earth orbit the moon? Play with this simulation and write a paragraph summarizing your findings. How can new planets in other solar systems be detected?
Read and answer the questions. Some questions may be skipped according to math ability (see teacher).
*Trajectories of Space Probes in Our Solar System - research activity*
Draw a poster showing the trajectories of various space exploration craft launched in our solar system.
Desribe the effect of gravity on the orbits of comets in a short report. If the orbits of most comets are far outside the solar system, what causes some of them to come close enough to the Sun so that we can observe them? What is the difference between a long and a short period comet? What causes the orbits of some comets to be completely inside the solar system? How can comets be hurled outside of the solar system?
*Discovering the Earth-Moon Relationship - online activity (handout available)*
How does gravity affect the Earth-Moon relationship. You can do all or any of this activity. Especially interesting is the activity on tides.
*Detect the Jupiter-like Planet Around these Stars - online activity*
This is a more advanced activity. Write a summary of your findings.
I found this website rather interesting, even though I am not sure if this is possible. What is an Earth orbiting elevator and how does it work? How feasible do you think this is? What principles have you learned that are involved in this project? Pretend you are trying to make this idea a reality. Prepare a presentation to sell this idea to investors.
*Volcanoes on Io - handout or lab available for download for PCs*
How does the low gravity on Io affect the debris shot out of volcanoes?
Continue the research in this actitivity by describing how gravitational forces between Io and Jupiter keep Io's interior molten
