Capturing Homemade Microgravity

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This activity (page 2 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Microgravity) is a full inquiry investigation into how ordinary things behave in microgravity, similar to what astronauts experience. Groups of learners will prepare a large drop box, complete with wireless camera, to drop off a balcony with an everyday phenomenon (e.g. burning candle, fizzing seltzer tablet, swinging pendulum) inside. After observing the object in ordinary gravity, it is placed inside the drop box and dropped so the camera can record images during free fall for analysis. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV: Microgravity.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Learning Time:
2 to 4 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
Over $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
      • Probes, Satellites and Spacecraft
  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Aerospace Engineering
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Machines
      • Gravity
      • Momentum and Velocity
      • Newton's Laws
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Mass and Weight
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • About Inquiry
      • Asking Questions
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Outdoor Activity
  • Photography and Film/Video

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • use keyboard
  • use mouse
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Culture, ethnicity, and gender

  • Girls

    • Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
    • Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
    • Uses inclusive images of people from this group

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Source Collection

  • DragonflyTV

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2006

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation, 436260