Unit E Lesson 9: Space Transport
Completion requirements
Unit E Lesson 9: Space Transport
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Learning Targets |
Big Question: What technologies could humans use for space transport?
It takes amazing designs, strong materials, and a whole lot of fuel for us to get through Earth's atmosphere and start traveling in space.
It takes amazing designs, strong materials, and a whole lot of fuel for us to get through Earth's atmosphere and start traveling in space.
At the end of this inquiry, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What are the parts of a rocket?
- What law is important to the propulsion of a rocket?
- What is the significance of Sputnik
- What is the significance of Laika?
Pages 408 and 417 in your textbook will help you answer these space transport questions.
Introduction
In 1865, the French author Jules Verne wrote "From the Earth to the Moon" in which he imagined the first moon landing.
When Apollo 11 landed on the moon 104 years later, Jules Verne had made a number of correct predictions.
Science fiction movies such as Star Wars depict spacecraft traveling through the universe at astounding speeds. Similar to nineteenth century visionaries imagining rocket travel, are we witnessing the beginnings of travel outside our own solar system? Will traveling at the speed of light, or faster, ever be possible?
Science fiction movies such as Star Wars depict spacecraft traveling through the universe at astounding speeds. Similar to nineteenth century visionaries imagining rocket travel, are we witnessing the beginnings of travel outside our own solar system? Will traveling at the speed of light, or faster, ever be possible?
Background Information
Leaving Earth's Atmosphere
Before we can travel throughout the universe, humans must first leave Earth’s atmosphere, which requires a force upward stronger than gravity pulls down. The solution to overcoming the force of gravity is a rocket. Rockets have been used on Earth to propel devices into the air for centuries, but reaching space is another matter. Rockets need to produce enough thrust to push the rocket high enough that it will reach space. The forces acting on the rocket are shown in Figure 1. Thrust describes the force that the rocket must produce to push it up. The thrust creates lift. The force of gravity works to pull the rocket’s weight towards Earth. Forces of friction create drag.
In a rocket, fuel is combusted, creating exhaust gases that vent down. The action of the exhaust gases pushing down, causes the rocket to propelled up in the opposite direction. This is known as Newton's third law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The forces acting on a rocket as it is propelled into space puts limitations on the weight of the spacecraft. The infoBit on page 412 of the Science in Action 9 textbook describes the weight restrictions of manned spaceflight.
Before we can travel throughout the universe, humans must first leave Earth’s atmosphere, which requires a force upward stronger than gravity pulls down. The solution to overcoming the force of gravity is a rocket. Rockets have been used on Earth to propel devices into the air for centuries, but reaching space is another matter. Rockets need to produce enough thrust to push the rocket high enough that it will reach space. The forces acting on the rocket are shown in Figure 1. Thrust describes the force that the rocket must produce to push it up. The thrust creates lift. The force of gravity works to pull the rocket’s weight towards Earth. Forces of friction create drag.
In a rocket, fuel is combusted, creating exhaust gases that vent down. The action of the exhaust gases pushing down, causes the rocket to propelled up in the opposite direction. This is known as Newton's third law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The forces acting on a rocket as it is propelled into space puts limitations on the weight of the spacecraft. The infoBit on page 412 of the Science in Action 9 textbook describes the weight restrictions of manned spaceflight.
Figure 1 – The arrows indicate the forces on a rocket in flight.
Watch
Action – Reaction
The Disney movie WALL-E shows how the forces of action and reaction work to move mass. In the movie, WALL-E the robot uses a fire extinguisher to control his movement in space. By shooting the fire extinguisher in one direction, he can propel himself in the opposite direction towards his destination. But is this possible?
Watch the following video to see a scientist test the theory in real life.
The Disney movie WALL-E shows how the forces of action and reaction work to move mass. In the movie, WALL-E the robot uses a fire extinguisher to control his movement in space. By shooting the fire extinguisher in one direction, he can propel himself in the opposite direction towards his destination. But is this possible?
Watch the following video to see a scientist test the theory in real life.
Heavy Rocket? You'll Need More Thrust!
The spacecraft requires enough fuel to produce an explosion that will be strong enough to overpower the gravitational pull. A heavier spacecraft requires an even larger explosion, which would require more fuel. For this reason, there is a strict limit on weight of the spacecraft and the amount of payload that can be carried.
How does a rocket produce the thrust needed to propel it into space? Rockets use gas under pressure. As the gas is released, it produces a downward force that is enough to overcome gravity, and cause the rocket to accelerate up in the opposite direction. This is an application of Newton's Third Law; for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The spacecraft requires enough fuel to produce an explosion that will be strong enough to overpower the gravitational pull. A heavier spacecraft requires an even larger explosion, which would require more fuel. For this reason, there is a strict limit on weight of the spacecraft and the amount of payload that can be carried.
How does a rocket produce the thrust needed to propel it into space? Rockets use gas under pressure. As the gas is released, it produces a downward force that is enough to overcome gravity, and cause the rocket to accelerate up in the opposite direction. This is an application of Newton's Third Law; for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Interactive
Space Flight
- Click here
to watch the BrainPOP video "
Space Flight".
This video discusses two types of rockets. Liquid-fuel rockets that mix a liquid fuel with an oxidizer. The
explosion produces rapidly expanding gas to generate thrust. Solid-fuel rockets burn a mixture of solid and oxidizer that is solid at room temperature. When ignited, the exhaust gases are expelled to produce thrust.
You will need a username and password to access the video.
- Username: 0099
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Password: students
-
Click here to complete the quiz on
Space Flight. Remember to check your answers at the end!
Try It!
Practice Worksheet: Space Exploration Milestones
- DOWNLOAD this practice worksheet (S9_UE_S3_L9_space_milestones). If you prefer to use a Google Drive or PDF
version of the worksheet, click here.
- Read page 410 of the Science in Action 9 textbook and answer the questions on the worksheet.
- When you are satisfied with your responses you can check your work by clicking on the "SUGGESTED ANSWERS" button below.
Wait! Don't view the suggested answers first. This practice work is not for marks, it is meant to help you check your understanding. Check the answers AFTER doing the questions! Keep the practice worksheet for study purposes. If you don't understand something, contact your teacher!
Figure 2 – The future is likely to see many more space stations.
Interactive
The Apollo Project
Click here to watch the BrainPOP video "The Apollo Project".
You will need a username and password to access the video.
Click here to watch the BrainPOP video "The Apollo Project".
You will need a username and password to access the video.
- Username: 0099
-
Password: students
The Future of Space Travel
Humans have been able to invent rocket ships for leaving the Earth's atmosphere, but is it possible that in the near future a spacecraft will provide travel to other parts of the universe?
NASA is developing many space travel projects. Learn more about the future of space travel by visiting the NASA Journey to Mars website.
Read pages 413 to 417 in the Science in Action 9 textbook about the future of space travel – ion drives, solar sails, shuttles, probes, and space stations.
Humans have been able to invent rocket ships for leaving the Earth's atmosphere, but is it possible that in the near future a spacecraft will provide travel to other parts of the universe?
NASA is developing many space travel projects. Learn more about the future of space travel by visiting the NASA Journey to Mars website.
Read pages 413 to 417 in the Science in Action 9 textbook about the future of space travel – ion drives, solar sails, shuttles, probes, and space stations.
Figure 3 – Who knows what type of spaceships will be invented?