NASA Teaching From Space: Microgravity eXperience

1. Convection in Microgravity Greg McMillan Christine Kincaid Dewey Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center Warren, MI Rose Cybulski, Tuyen Duddles Jamie Hilliard NASA Teaching From Space:Microgravity eXperience

2. Microgravity Flight WeekFebruary 5 -11, 2012 Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas

3. Microgravity eXperience 30 Parabolas 25-30 seconds Micro-gravity (Near zero-g) 35-45 seconds Hyper-gravity 1.85 g (max)

4. Proposed Research Question Do convection currents form in a microgravity environment? If so, do they form at the same rate as they do on earth?

5. Microgravity Flight

6. Microgravity eXperience Application Window: August – September • (NASA Express, NEON, Twitter, Facebook) October: Notified of Acceptance November: Online Community Begins * December: TEDP Due • Test Equipment Data Package February: Flight Week March- April: Final Reports, Outreach

7. NASA Rewards Astronaut Food Books & Calendars Space Photos Classroom Posters

8. Student Driven Process 11th Grade Students Review Topics in Physics Class • Mass vs Weight • Normal Force • Density and Buoyant Forces • Kinetic Theory of Matter • Heat Transfer Conduct Research and Investigative Experiments • Hot Air Balloon • Nuetral Bouyancy Lab • Convection in a Pan.

9. Student Driven Process Students Determine Hypothesis • Students presented their Hypothesis and justification to the rest of the school and at Open House. • Students and Community Voted for the hypothesis they supported Convection Currents Form? Yes-42% No-58%

10. Engineering Design Process

11. Students Design Experiment

12. Experimental Considerations • NASA Mentor assigned to Each Team in October. • Sarah Ruiz (Shuttle Mission Control, ISS Safety) • Every element of experiment must be accounted for in TEDP (Test Equipment Data Package) • 40 lb Weight Limit (Including Liquids) • Must Fit within 36”x23”x26” “Glovebox” • All Liquids Must be at least Double Contained • MSDS For EVERYTHING • Schematics for electric circuits • Equipment must remain in “Glovebox” during parabolas.

13. PROCEDURE 12 Convection Tubes 3 x 1.5 in Clear PVC seperated by ball valve Hot Blue Water in “lower” portion and valve Clear Ice Water in “upper” portion Valve is opened during 0-g portion of Parabola Left open during Hyper-Gravity Process is Video Recorded. Vertical velocity of Blue water is measured using Vernier Logger Pro Video tools.

14. Procedure

15. Flight Week Activities • Flight Training (How NOT to get sick) • Professional Development (Space Suit) • TRR Presentation (Test Readiness Review) • Worked directly with NASA Astronauts and Engineers

16. Flight Week ActivitiesVIP Tour of Johnson Space Center Sonny Carter Neutral Buoyancy Lab Building 9: NASA vehicle simulators

17. Flight Week ActivitiesVIP Tour of Johnson Space Center ISS Mission Control Apollo Mission Control

18. FLIGHT DAY

19. In Flight

21. Results

22. Results Conclusion: Data analysis shows that there is not a correlation between temperature difference and the rate of convection in either 1 g or microgravity environments.

23. Impact on Students • Engineering Design Process offers a hands-on experience for students that complements & enhances the core curriculum that teachers must teach. • Experience gives context to & makes tangible abstract math & science concepts for students. • MMSTC’s NASA project meets 7 of 8 scientific and engineering practices in the National Research Council’s Next Generation of Science Standards.

24. 8 Scientific & Engineering Practices Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) Developing and using models Planning and carrying out investigations Analyzing and interpreting data Using mathematics, information and computer technology, and computational thinking Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering) Engaging in argument from evidence Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information 24

25. Math Resources: Exploring Space Through Math

26. Math Resources:Math and Science @ Work Space Exploration Series Research Laboratory Series

27. How To Get Involved NASA: Teaching From Space http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/home/index.html Sign up for NASA Express Update http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/Express_Landing.html NASA Educators Online Network (NEON) http://neon.psu.edu/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/TeachFromSpace Twitter http://twitter.com/TeachFromSpace

28. Other Resources NASA Explorer Schools explorerschools.nasa.gov NASA.gov For Educators http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html Education Materials http://education.ssc.nasa.gov/materials.asp e-clips (downloadable video series) ERCN: Educator Resource Center Network Educator Resource Center Network CORE: Central Operation of Resources for Educators

29. Other Resources SSERD Downloadable Lesson Plans http://teachspacescience.org/ Science Off The Sphere (Don Pettit/ ISS) http://www.physicscentral.com/explore/sots/ NASA Kids Club http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html NASA Smart Phone App* Twitter Feed Asteroid Watch Image of the Day News and Mission Updates

30. Professional Development DLN:Digital Learning Network Virtual Presentations, Webcasts dln.nasa.gov AESP:Aerospace Education Services Project Professional Development Online, In Person aesp.psu.edu

31. EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

32. NASA Teaching From Space:Microgravity eXperience