2 of 12

Spinning Planet Rocket Launch

A 6th grade STEM lesson

Jeff

Herold

7/15/2023

3 of 12

Notes for Teachers

Location for Activity: You will need a large space indoors and a helper to spin the chair or if you have a local playground with a merry-go-round, bring someone to help get you spinning!

This activity can be modified to accommodate home schools, small groups, or entire classrooms.

List of Materials:

Various spheres of different materials and sizes (styrofoam, tennis balls, golf balls, bean bags, etc.)
Two buckets, baskets or boxes (one for the target and one for transporting)
Chair that spins or a playground merry-go-round

4 of 12

Arizona Science Standards

Science Standards:

Physical Science

P3: Net Force

P4: Energy Transfer

Earth and Space Science

E1: Earth Systems

E2: Earth & the Universe

Engineering

S2: Apply the Engineering Design Process

Science and Engineering Practices

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models
plan and carry out investigations
analyze and interpret data
use mathematical and computational thinking
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate and communicate information

5 of 12

Overview:

How do space engineers know when to launch?

We will find out by tossing various spheres towards a target.

6 of 12

Agenda (60 minutes)

Background

Procedures

Discussion

Extensions

Assessing

7 of 12

Background

Nothing in space stands still. Everything either orbits around something else, or moves toward or away from something else. So how do space engineers aim a spacecraft so it lands on Mars or meets up with a particular comet or asteroid?

Not only are Earth and the target constantly moving in their different orbits around the Sun, but our Earthly launch pad is spinning at about 1,000 miles per hour when we launch the rocket!

8 of 12

Procedure

Place the basket on the ground about 3 or 4 meters (9 to 12 feet) from the merry-go-round or office chair. Then, step up on the merry-go-round with your container of spheres or sit carefully on the chair.

Without moving around in a circle just yet, try tossing a few spheres into the basket on the ground.

Now it’s time to spin! Have someone assist you and try tossing the balls into the basket on the ground as you go around.

Adding the motion makes it a lot harder to hit your target, doesn't it? Now imagine the target is on another spinning merry-go-round or chair on the other side of the playground or room.

What you will probably find out is that timing is everything!

9 of 12

Discussion

In picking a time to launch, space engineers and scientists have to consider quite a number of things. Most of them have to do with getting the biggest boost possible from the big launch pad called planet Earth!

Earth goes around the sun at a brisk 107,000 kilometers per hour (66,000 miles per hour)! If our interplanetary spacecraft is aimed in the same direction Earth is already going, it will get a big head start.

10 of 12

Discussion

Also, Earth rotates eastward on its axis, one complete turn each day. At the equator, Earth's surface is rotating at 1675 kilometers per hour (1041 miles per hour)! So, if we launch the rocket toward the east, it will get another big boost from Earth's rotational motion.

11 of 12

How do we assess our work?

Spinning Planet Rocket Launch:

Students will draw a model with labels. Model does not have to be perfect, but representative. Once approved, the students will work individually or with a partner to create a physical working model, demonstrating the science of the lesson.

12 of 12

Remediation/ Extension

Remediation:

Make sure to check in with students as they work.

Before students draw the model, have students brainstorm words they might need to label and write on the board.

Extension:

To learn more about the basics of spaceflight and trajectories, visit: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/basics/chapter4-1