Beginner's
Guide to Rockets
Gas Temperature
Subject Area(s):
Physical Science
Grade Level: 10 - 12
Time Required: 2 class periods
National Standards:
Science
- Unifying
Concepts and Processes:
- Evidence,
models, and explanation.
- Form and
function.
- Science
as Inquiry: Understandings about scientific inquiry.
- Physical
Science:
- Motions
and forces.
- Structure
and properties of matter.
Technology
- Research
Tools - Use content-specific tools, software and simulations
(e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments,
Web tools) to support learning and research.
- Problem-Solving
and Decision-Making Tools - Routinely and efficiently use on-line
information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research,
publications, communications, and productivity.
Objectives:
- You will study
the effects of a change in temperature on gas molecules using a balloon
and an Erlenmeyer Flask.
- After observing
changes in the balloon during the procedure, you or you and your group
will, with the aid of the Beginner's
Guide to Rockets, offer an explanation of the changes and apply
what you have learned to a rocket nozzle.
- You will investigate
a question you or you and your group have about temperature and/or
rocket nozzles.
The Beginner's
Guide to Rockets is a Web site of information prepared by
the NASA Glenn Research Center to help you better understand rockets and rocket
propulsion. Click on the Beginner's
Guide Index to access the list of slides. Open the slides entitled
Gas Temperature,
Rocket Thrust Simulator,
and Thrust Equations Summary.
Read the descriptions. Use these descriptions as background information
to help you complete the activity.
Notes:
A. The
pushing of the balloon inside the flask by atmospheric pressure is presented
as an aid in visualizing the effects of air temperature, pressure, and
force.
B. This lesson
is a cooling effect and a rocket nozzle also experiences a cooling effect.
C. This lesson
works well when students are shown the end result initially and asked
how the balloon was put inside the flask.
Assessment:
You will
be assessed on the extent of detail provided by your observations and
by the use of scientific concepts in your explanations as recorded in
your journals.
Evaluation:
You will
be evaluated on your ability to research an extension question and present
to the class information found in the Beginner's
Guide to Rockets on the World Wide Web. You are expected
to be on task, and journals will be randomly checked.
-
Submitted by:
Norma Holowach, Lakeview High School, Cortland, Ohio
Related Sites:
Activity
Worksheet
Answers
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