Space Shuttle Orbiter
Did you know that satellites and the Space Shuttle don't need engines to power their orbits? See how Earth's gravitational pull bends their forward motion and keeps them moving around the planet.
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More About This Resource...
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Students learn how orbits are created by a force pulling toward the center in this Moveable Museum unit, in which they build a paper model of a Space Shuttle. The four-page PDF guide includes:
- Educator materials—general background readings, activity notes, and step-by-step directions.
- An Orbit Requires a Force Toward the Center procedure—students experiment with a roll of tape tied to a piece of string to learn how gravity prevents objects from flying off into space.
- Creating an Orbit by Simulating the Force of Gravity procedure—students build a paper model of a Space Station and launch it into orbit to see centripetal force in action.
- Optional Extension: Changing the Mass of the Orbited Body procedure—students again launch their Space Station model, but this time with a reduction in "gravitational force."
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Completion Time
Approximately 1 period
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Topic
Astronomy -
Subtopic
Concepts -
Subtopic
National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• motions and forces• interactions of energy and matter
Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:
• abilities of technological design• understandings about science and technology
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor• nature of scientific knowledge
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Learning Standard
National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• motions and forces• interactions of energy and matter
Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E:
• abilities of technological design• understandings about science and technology
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor• nature of scientific knowledge
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