National Aeronautics and Space Administration

January 26, 2007University of Southern Mississippi

Mississippi Space Grant Consortium

Annual Teachers Conference

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John C. Stennis Space Center

NASA’s Toy Box

Presented by:

Diana NunezAerospace Education SpecialistEducator Resource Center CoordinatorMississippi Space Services (MSS)Diana.Nunez@ssc.nasa.gov

www.nasa.gov

NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration...

NASA’s Mission for Education

Science

Technology

Engineering

Mathematics

Attract and retain students in STEM disciplines

Strengthen NASA and the Nation’s future workforce

Engage Americans in NASA’s mission

NASA’s Toy BoxGrades: 5 – 12Purpose: To explore physics concepts while having fun with toys!

Objectives Model a variety of hands-on activities

related to physics using toys that are readily available.

To observe the behaviors of toys in microgravity on the International Toys in Space and Toys In Space II DVD’s and determine how microgravity affects the motions of familiar toys.

History of Toys in SpaceToys in Space ISTS-51DSpace Shuttle DiscoveryApril, 1985

Toys in Space IISTS-54Space Shuttle EndeavourJanuary, 1993

International Toys in SpaceExpedition 5International Space Station2002

NASA CORE Central Operation of Resources for Educators http://core.nasa.gov

International Toys in Space

and

Toys in Space II

DVD

International Toys in Space Cost: $409 Toys

Toys in Space 2Cost: $256 Toys

Activity Kits

NASA COREhttp://core.nasa.gov

InternationalToys in Space Science on the Station

Video Resource Guide

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/151730main_International.Toys.In.Space.pdf

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/151731main_Toys.In.Space.II.pdf

Toys in Space II

Video Resource Guide

NASA’s Toy BoxAgenda

What is microgravity? An explanation of freefall

Physics Concepts A review of forces involved

with today’s toys Teaching Physics with Toys

Inquiry activities using toys to teach physics

Toys in Space Inquiry activities examining

the effects of microgravity on toys

What is microgravity?What is microgravity?

Gravity (g) Gravity is a force of

attraction between objects.

The more massive the object, the greater the pull. However, the object has to be

really massive, like Earth,for the pull to be obvious.

The g’s

Earth’s gravity = 1 g Provides a force of

acceleration known as free fall (9.8 m/s2).

High g’s Any acceleration greater than free fall.> 1 g 9.8 m/s2

Low g’s Any acceleration less than free fall.

< 1 g< 9.8 m/s2

Gravity

Mass – the amount of matter an object contains

Weight – the magnitude of a gravitational pull

Ex. The moon’s gravitational pull is 1/6th that of earth.

Microgravity 8/13

NASA at the Amusement Park

You sleep tethered to a wall or ceiling.You turn a screw, but you turn instead.A sneeze sends you flying backwards.A drop of water forms a sphere and

floats in the air.The toilet acts like a vacuum cleaner,

using flowing air instead of water.

You know you’re in microgravity when . . . .

What is microgravity?

Microgravity is an environment where some of the effects of gravity are reduced.

Objects may appear to be weightless in mg conditions.

You can create mg conditions with freefall.

Water Mystery

What effect does gravity have on a falling can of water with a hole punched near the bottom?

Physics Concepts Review

Physics - Friction

The force that makes it difficult for one object to slide over another

On earth, push an object and friction slows it down.

In space, there is no friction. If you push an object, it continues to move and is difficult to stop or change direction.

Precision Air Bearing Floor (PABF) Simulates lack of friction in

microgravity Astronauts practice moving

large objects without letting them get away

Physics - Momentum

Momentum = mass X velocity

Conservation of Momentum - In a collision of 2 objects, the momentum lost by object 1 is equal to the momentum gained by object 2.

Physics-Centripetal and Centrifugal Force Centripetal Force – The inward force which

causes an object to turn. Centrifugal Force – The apparent outward

force exerted by an object moving in a circle. In reality, the object is simply tying to move in a straight line.

PhysicsAngular Momentum

a measure of the amount of spin or orbital motion an object has. Ex. Gyroscope, wheel

Angular Momentum = mass × velocity × distance (from point object is spinning or orbiting around)

•Linear momentum and centripetal force combine to give an object angular momentum.•Angular momentum must be conserved – Conservation of Angular Momentum.

Physics - Newton’s 1st Law of Motion

- An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion indefinitely along the same straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.Inertia (1) –an object tends to resist any change in its motion

Physics - Newton’s 1st Law of Motion

Whirl a yo-yo around on the end of its string.What will happen when you let go of the string?Why does a satellite orbitthe earth?

Physics - Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion

Force = mass X acceleration

F = m X a (ball) (ball)

F = m X a (cannon) (cannon)

Physics - Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion

Would you apply a greater force to kick the basketball or the beach ball the same distance?

Baseball or a whiffle ball?

Golf ball or a ping pong ball?

Physics – Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Objects move forwardby pushing backward on a surface or on a fluid.

Teaching Physics

with Toys

Teaching with ToysBalloons

A cushion of air lifts hovercraft off of the surface and reduces friction.

Build a small hovercraft to demonstrate how it floats without friction.

Tabletop Hovercraft

NASAexplores http://www.nasaexplores.com

• Detailed lesson plans and articles

• Search engine

• Teacher Sheets and Student Sheets

• 3 Grade Levels:K-4, 5-8, 9-12

Teaching with ToysMarbles

Collisions - Part 1- Observe colliding marbles to

demonstrate the law of conservation of momentum.

Amusement Park Physics with a NASA

Twist

Educator Activity Guide

//insert clip # 1//

Toys in SpaceStudent Investigations:

1. Describe how you play with this toy here on Earth.

2. Name the physics concepts that make this toy work.

3. Will toy work in space? Why?

4. Would you change anything to make toy work in space?

5. Results in microgravity (DVD)

Toys in SpaceBoomerang

Make your own boomerang by cutting out the pattern and curving the blades upward.

Throw the boomerang with a vertical spin.

On Earth, a spinning boomerang exhibits angular momentum.

Boomerang does not return unless it is spinning. Faster it is spinning and the more upward the

curve of the blades, the more quickly it returns – Newton’s Second Law of Motion.

Gravity causes the boomerang to fall. Blades act as propellers pushing back against

the air and propelling it forward - Aerodynamics. Axis of boomerang changes from vertical to

horizontal causing it to return to thrower.

Toys in SpaceBoomerang

In space, there is no gravity to turn the boomerang from vertical to horizontal.

The boomerang continued to move forward and did not change orientation or return to the astronaut - Newton’s First Law of Motion.

Toys in SpaceKendama or Ball and Cup

Make your own kendama witha dixie cup, craft stick, string and a ping pong ball.

•Gravity causes the ball to fall into the cup and stay there.

Toys in SpaceKendama or Ball and Cup

• In space, the ball follows a straight path until it is snapped back when the string is stretched all the way out – Newton’s First Law of Motion.

• The astronaut was able to get the ball into the cup by redirecting the ball toward it, but he had a hard time keeping it in the cup. The ball kept bouncing back out Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion (Action-reaction) because there was no gravity to help keep it in.

Toys in SpaceJump rope

Gravity pulls the jumper back down to the ground.

The jump rope circles the jumper by centripetal force.

Toys in SpaceJump rope

When the rope circles in one direction, the free-floating astronaut may swing around in the other direction to conserve angular momentum.

Toys in SpaceKlackers

•Balls move up by pushing down on the handle and move down by pushing up on the handle – Newton’s Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction).•While the balls move around the handle, they possess momentum. •A stationary ball has no momentum. When the moving ball hits the stationary ball, it passes its momentum to the stationary one –Conservation of Angular Momentum.

Klacker Balls in Space

Toys in SpaceKlackers

In space, the klacker’s motion where the balls hit on the top and bottom could be done.

The circular motion where you hit the ball at the bottom of each circle could not be mastered in space. There was no force (gravity) to hold the ball down at the bottom of the circle and it kept circling the handle with the other ball - momentum.

Toys in SpaceBasketball

Gravity brings the ball down through the hoop.

A banked shot moves the ball forward by pushing back on the backboard – Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion.

Show Basketball movie clipfrom Toys in Space II DVD

Toys in SpaceBasketball

In space, the astronaut could not arc the ball into the basket (Newton’s First Law of Motion) or make a banked shot off the backboard.

To make a basket he had to bounce the ball off the ceiling or do a slam dunk.

Toys in SpaceCar & Track

•On Earth, the car moves forward by pushing backward on the track – Newton’s Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction)•There is not enough acceleration generated by the car - Newton’s Second Law of Motion (F= M X A) to break the force of gravity. The car can’t circle the track.

Show Car and Track movie clip from Toys in Space II DVD

Toys in SpaceCar & Track•In space, gravity does not act on the car, so the car will travel around the track until its engine winds down – Newton’s First Law of Motion. It will remain where it stopped until the track is moved.

•Centrifugal force holdsthe car against the track because there is no gravity pulling it down.

Learn all you canand who knows how far you’ll go?