Practical STEM -- How Big? How Far? How Wide?

Sharon BowersNational Institute of Aerospace

• Explore relationships between S-T-E-M

• Explore NASA and NIA resources that support integrative STEM instruction

• Model integrated STEM instruction

Today’s Objectives

Slide SharePractical STEM

Graphical Dictionaries

How big is the moon?

How far away is the moon?

How far?

How are craters formed?

•How do you think lunar craters are formed?

•What do you think are factors that affect the appearance and size of craters and eject?

How are craters formed?

Cratering• Drop impactor #1 from a height of 30 cm onto the prepared surface.• Measure the diameter and depth of the resulting crater.• Ejecta? Count the rays, measure, and determine the average length

of all rays.• Record measurements and any other observations.• Make three trials and compute the mean.• Repeat with impactor #1, increasing the drop heights to 60 cm, 90

cm, and 2 meters.• What else do you wonder?

Impact Craters

Measuring Craters• How do you measure the area of

an irregular shape?

Impact Craters

Measuring Craters From a Distance

• How can you measure the scale of a lunar image?

Impact Craters

Exploring the Moon

Moon Math Supplemental GuideStudents will:

1) approximate the area and volume of a classroom-made crater, 2) calculate and compare thescale of lunar craters to classroom craters, and 3) observe how the size, mass, and angle of impact of a projectile affect the area andvolume of a crater.

Moon Math: Craters!

Crater Probability• Suppose that over a period of 100,000 years, four

asteroids struck the lunar surface.

• What would be the probability that they would strike an already-cratered area, or the lunar mare, where there are few craters?

Impact Craters

http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Where’s the STEM?

Science – the study of the physical world; driven by a question

Technology – the application of scientific and engineering knowledge

to achieve a practical result.

Engineering – the creation of the designed world; driven by societal need

Mathematics – bridges science and engineering

Innovation – Creation of something new

LCROSS Mission

Mathematics –

Science – Gravity, Laws of Motion, Moon, Chemistry

Technology –

Innovation –

Mathematicians

Scientists& Engineers

Engineers, Technicians& Scientists

Engineers & many other professions & skills

Carried out by:

Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus

Un-crewed missions for lunar exploration

Rockets, Satellites, Cameras, Computers, Communications

This lesson

Mathematics –

Science – Moon properties, gravity

Technology –

Innovation –

Mathematicians

Scientists& Engineers

Engineers, Technicians& Scientists

Engineers & many other professions & skills

Carried out by:

Scale, area, measurement

Impactor launcher

LCROSS

The Milky Way . . . how big is big?

If our entire solar system could be shrunk down to the size of a quarter, the Milky Way Galaxy, which is approximately 10,000 light- years in width, would be the width of the continental United States!