NASA Teaching From Space: Microgravity eXperience

NASA Teaching From Space:Microgravity eXperience

Convection in Microgravity

Greg McMillanChristine Kincaid Dewey

Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center

Warren, MI

Rose Cybulski, Tuyen Duddles Jamie Hilliard

Microgravity Flight WeekFebruary 5 -11, 2012

Johnson Space CenterHouston, Texas

Microgravity eXperience

30 Parabolas

25-30 secondsMicro-gravity(Near zero-g)

35-45 secondsHyper-gravity1.85 g (max)

Proposed Research Question

Do convection currents form in a microgravity environment?

If so, do they form at the same rate as they do on earth?

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Microgravity Flight

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Microgravity eXperience

Application Window: August – September • (NASA Express, NEON, Twitter, Facebook)

October: Notified of AcceptanceNovember: Online Community Begins *December: TEDP Due• Test Equipment Data Package

February: Flight WeekMarch- April: Final Reports, Outreach

NASA Rewards

7Classroom Posters

Space PhotosBooks & Calendars

Astronaut Food

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Student Driven Process

11th Grade Students Review Topics in Physics Class Mass vs Weight Normal ForceDensity and Buoyant ForcesKinetic Theory of MatterHeat Transfer

Conduct Research and Investigative ExperimentsHot Air BalloonNuetral Bouyancy LabConvection in a Pan.

Student Driven Process

Students Determine HypothesisStudents presented their Hypothesis and justification to the rest of the school and at Open House.Students and Community Voted for the hypothesis they supported

Convection Currents Form?

Yes-42%

No-58%

Engineering Design Process

Students Design Experiment

Experimental Considerations

NASA Mentor assigned to Each Team in October.Sarah Ruiz (Shuttle Mission Control, ISS Safety)EveryEvery element of experiment must be accounted for in TEDP (Test Equipment Data Package)40 lb Weight Limit (Including Liquids)Must Fit within 36”x23”x26” “Glovebox”All Liquids Must be at least Double ContainedMSDS For EVERYTHINGEVERYTHINGSchematics for electric circuitsEquipment must remain in “Glovebox” during parabolas.

PROCEDURE

12 Convection Tubes3 x 1.5 in Clear PVC seperated by ball valve

Hot Blue Water in “lower” portion and valveClear Ice Water in “upper” portionValve is opened during 0-g portion of ParabolaLeft open during Hyper-GravityProcess is Video Recorded.Vertical velocity of Blue water

is measured using Vernier Logger Pro Video tools.

Procedure

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Flight Week Activities

Flight Training (How NOT to get sick)Professional Development (Space Suit)TRR Presentation (Test Readiness Review)Worked directly with NASA Astronauts and Engineers

Flight Week ActivitiesVIP Tour of Johnson Space Center

Sonny Carter Neutral Buoyancy Lab

Building 9: NASA vehicle simulators

Flight Week ActivitiesVIP Tour of Johnson Space Center

ISS Mission Control

Apollo Mission Control

FLIGHT DAY

In Flight

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Results

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Results

Conclusion:Data analysis shows that there is not a correlation between temperature difference and the rate of convection in either 1 g or microgravity environments.

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Impact on Students

Engineering Design Process offers a hands-on experience for students that complements & enhances the core curriculum that teachers must teach.Experience gives context to & makes tangible abstract math & science concepts for students.MMSTC’s NASA project meets 7 of 8 scientific and engineering practices in the National Research Council’s Next Generation of Science Standards.

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8 Scientific & Engineering Practices

• Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)

• Developing and using models• Planning and carrying out investigations• Analyzing and interpreting data• Using mathematics, information and computer technology,

and computational thinking• Constructing explanations (for science) and designing

solutions (for engineering)• Engaging in argument from evidence• Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Math Resources: Exploring Space Through Math

Math Resources:Math and Science @ Work

Research Laboratory Series

Space Exploration Series

How To Get Involved

NASA: Teaching From Spacehttp://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/home/index.html

Sign up for NASA Express Updatehttp://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/Express_Landing.html

NASA Educators Online Network (NEON)http://neon.psu.edu/

Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/#!/TeachFromSpace

Twitterhttp://twitter.com/TeachFromSpace

Other Resources

NASA Explorer Schools explorerschools.nasa.gov

NASA.govFor Educatorshttp://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html

Education Materials http://education.ssc.nasa.gov/materials.aspe-clips (downloadable video series)ERCN: Educator Resource Center Network Educator Resource Center NetworkCORE: Central Operation of Resources for Educators

Other Resources

SSERD Downloadable Lesson Planshttp://teachspacescience.org/

Science Off The Sphere (Don Pettit/ ISS)http://www.physicscentral.com/explore/sots/

NASA Kids Clubhttp://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

NASA Smart Phone App* Twitter Feed Asteroid WatchImage of the Day News and Mission Updates

Professional Development

DLN: Digital Learning Network Virtual Presentations, Webcasts

dln.nasa.gov

AESP: Aerospace Education Services Project Professional Development Online, In Person

aesp.psu.edu

EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

NASA Teaching From Space:Microgravity eXperience