|
Technoteacher - Day 8
Using Tools in Space
Some tools we use everyday can’t be used in space. Try the following activity to see why.
Materials
 |
2 sheets of typing paper |
|
Hardcover book |
|
Ballpoint pen |
|
Pencil |
|
2 rubber bands |
Procedure:
- Put one sheet of paper on the book. Use the pen and pencil to write different words
- Put the other sheet of paper on the book, use the rubber bands to keep the paper to the book. Lie on your back and hold the book above your head
- Use the pen and pencil again to write different words. What happens? How do the pen and pencil work when writing upside down
|
Ballpoint pens work because of gravity. Gravity pulls ink from the ink cartridge onto a roller ball at the point. The ink is rolled from the roller ball onto the paper. When you hold a ballpoint pen upside down, though, the ink can’t flow onto the roller ball and the pen doesn’t write.
A pencil works because the graphite rubs against the paper and leaves a mark. Gravity is not needed to make a pencil work.
The World of Robots
Objective
To allow students to distinguish degrees of automation. To facilitate exploration of various robot functions and devices by using comparable movements of the human body.
Context
The robot mechanisms used on the Space Station rely on a combination of robot technologies. Knowing the general characteristics that differentiate mechanical and robotic functions in the main systems will help students understand how the systems operate together.
Procedure
-
First step:
With the students, distinguish between simple mechanical functions and robot systems, using the provided definitions.
-
Second step:
On sheets of paper, the blackboard or the spacelab wall, have students in groups draw familiar terrestrial objects that can be considered to function as simple machines. To assist them, create categories: home (e.g. can openers, scissors, lawn mowers); school: (central heating, air conditioning, cafeteria water heater); street: (school bus, train); air: (kites, hang gliders).
-
Third step:
Identify robotized objects from a household, urban, marine, air or space environment and pick out their component systems, using the categories in the table above.
|
