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The purpose of this activity is to investigate the concepts of motion while simulating a rocket launch. The rocket’s motion can be divided into two segments: upward acceleration while the rocket’s engines are thrusting and freefall once the engines shut off. By controlling the acceleration and burn time, your students can make the rocket hit the clouds. Once they get a feeling for the rocket, they should take and graph data – just like a scientist or engineer - to better understand the rocket’s motion. Next, have your students study the rocket’s motion on the Moon and planets to better understand gravity. Finally, challenge your students to design a two-stage rocket that would be needed if they were to go to the Moon. Position, velocity, acceleration, positive and negative numbers are essential to describe and understand motion. If these ideas are confusing, there are definitions for your students in the active book to help them understand the concepts.
This activity employs many research-based strategies. Check them out for valuable tips and downloads. You may want to try the activity yourself first so you will be better prepared to help your students. Involve other students and have them work cooperatively (follow the link for advice).
Be sure Squeak is installed successfully on your computer. It will take about 15 seconds for the project to load for a fast connection (up to 5 minutes for a slow modem connection). Wait until you see an orange flap at the lower left labeled Navigation. Click the flap to open and close it and access some neat tools. If you click Escape Browser, you will have more space. Click Browser Reentry to get back your Browser controls.
Rocket Launch: The NASA Rocket is waiting for your students to launch at the Control and Data Center. If they want to play first, then they can follow the Quick Start instructions on the first page of the active book at the right of the Squeak project. If your students need more direction and background, then they should go through the book. You may wish to review the concepts of position, velocity, acceleration and gravity. However you start, be sure your students complete the explorations near the end of the book and try to do the challenge. They will find it useful to plot data to understand position, velocity and acceleration better. Scientists often plot data to help them understand. Click the LAUNCH button at the left to start.
Plotting Tool: Review plotting data. If your students are already in the rocket launch activity, they should click Browser Reentry and then click the browser back button to return to this page. They should click the PLOTTING button at the left to review plotting.
Challenge: First your students should watch the recording of how to use Squeak to make the objects on the page perform for them. Playing is a great way to learn. They must click Escape Browser and their resolution must be set at 1024x768 to view the recording properly. They should click the PLAYING button at the left to start the recording. Then they should return to LAUNCH and challenge themselves to "design" a two-stage rocket. They should take data on their rocket and graph the data to help improve their design. Engineers often plot data to help them with the design process. Have your students submit their two-stage Squeak project to the NASA CONNECT web site. We will post all the good entries that we receive to acknowledge your student's good work and let others learn from their solutions.
After your students are familiar with the Squeak Rocket Launch project, have them try these additional extensions. They should explore, create, and have fun learning.
Activity Objectives:
- Students will understand accelerated motion.
- Students will understand freefall motion.
- Students will review and solidify concepts of displacement, velocity, acceleration, and gravity.
- Students will use graphing skills to analyze and interpret data.
- Students will compare the rocket’s motion on the Earth to that on the Moon and planets.
- Students will understand how simulations are made from computer programs.
- Students will work cooperatively with other students and discuss results during the interactive activity.
Teacher Information
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