TOYS IN SPACE

Reflect upon the kinds of learning experiences you have had with toys. Toys in Space Toys are great tools to use in teaching science. Reflect upon the kinds of learning experiences you have had with toys.

In this lesson, you will learn about using toys to: Teach about forces and motion. Differentiate between environments experiencing forces of gravity as opposed to those in microgravity. Motivate science learning. Develop several science-teaching methods. Correct some science misconceptions.

Does gravity exist in space? The microgravity conditions of space are studied on Earth using: The Vomit Comet Falling objects The Sonny Carter swimming pool Web sites describing this research can be found in the list of Microgravity Resources.

A Constructivist Approach Toys are not only fun, they are also familiar. At the heart of the constructivist approach to learning is building upon the individual’s existing knowledge. Read what research says about Constructivism in the Resources section.

Identifying Misconceptions Listening to how students explain phenomena is a good way of detecting misconceptions. Let students play with various toys. Allow them to construct and share their understanding of why the toy reacts as it does.

Are physical laws different in space than on Earth? “What goes up must come down” is NOT one of Newton’s Laws Revisit Newton’s Laws of motion. Websites including simulations, activities, and definitions can be found in Resources. Are physical laws different in space than on Earth?

Scientific Inquiry “What happens if…” is an engaging motivational technique to promote learning. The key to inquiry is stopping and moving forward at just the right time. Interest should still be at a high.

Why does it fly? From flapping birds and paper airplanes to Frisbees and boomerangs, all kinds of things move through the air. Many textbooks provide incorrect or misleading information about flight. Research how the motion of air around an object produces motion and flying.

Look up gyroscope to see how Go to Top 10 Websites and find How Things Work. Look up gyroscope to see how the gravitron works

Angular Momentum Test angular momentum with such devices as a bicycle wheel. Research and discover the relationships between angular momentum, direction, and force.

Center of Mass (COM) Use a constructivist approach to determine how objects rotate about their center of masses. Find the COM of an object. Suspend it from a point through its COM. Spin it. Explain its motion.

Conservation of Momentum One of the most important aspects of the laws describing force and motion is that of conservation of momentum. View an interactive simulation of colliding spheres in the Top Ten Resources.

The parabolic path of trajectory is due to Projectile Motion The parabolic path of trajectory is due to Newton’s First Law and gravity. Check the Resources for simulations of projectile motion.

Would your new game work with gravity? Problem Solving How could you re-design a basketball game so it could be played in microgravity? Would your new game work with gravity?

Instructions can be found in the Top Ten Websites. Toys with a Twist Make a Jacob’s Ladder for experimentation. How does it work? Instructions can be found in the Top Ten Websites.

Is there a difference between mechanical wave motion in gravity and in microgravity?

Force and Magnets As magnets get closer, the forces get stronger. This relationship can be further investigated in Resources: Inverse Square

Inquiry and Discovery Create a game using the marbles. Explain how the magnetic forces play a part in the game.

Build a Comeback Can Instructions for building The only thing more fun than a toy, is one that you have built yourself. Instructions for building can be found in Resources.

Roller Coasters and Race Cars Centripetal forces are explained by Newton’s Laws of Motion. How does gravity change the results? Explore some real life applications of these principles.

Toy design involves the same science principles found in the design of rockets and other space exploration paraphernalia.