1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,080 NASA Connect traveled northwest to Richmond, Virginia to conduct the student activity for 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:08,080 today's program. 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:09,080 Hi! 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,320 We're at Chandler Middle School in Richmond, Virginia. 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:19,520 NASA Connect asks us to help you understand how to do this show's student activity. 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:25,520 Earlier we learned that NASA Langley's Aircraft Landing Dynamics Facility, or ALDEF, uses 7 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:30,120 a carriage, pressurized water, and a test track to test tires. 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:35,640 Let's simulate the research they do at ALDEF using the effervescent non-combustible dragster, 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:36,640 or ENCD. 10 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:42,400 You'll test different ratios of water and effervescent tablets to propel the dragster 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:43,400 down a track. 12 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:49,160 Then you'll measure the distance your dragster travels and create graphs to analyze the results, 13 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:51,560 just like NASA researchers do. 14 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:56,760 The instructions for the entire student activity are found in the Educator's Lesson Guide, 15 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,880 so make sure your teacher has it. 16 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:04,320 Before we can test our dragster, we need to prepare three things, the dragster, the propulsion 17 00:01:04,320 --> 00:01:06,400 device, and the test track. 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,480 First, let's make the dragster. 19 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:13,800 The materials you need, like milk tops and straws, are easy to find. 20 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:18,640 After you've made the dragster, it's time to assemble the propulsion device. 21 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,440 This is made by using a shoebox. 22 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,520 Finally, prepare the test track, kind of like the one at ALDEF. 23 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,600 This next step is very important for making accurate measurements. 24 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,360 Now you're ready to begin testing your dragster. 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,880 Make sure you have your safety goggles on. 26 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,640 Place your dragster behind the starting line and slide the skewer on the shoebox into the 27 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,780 straw on the dragster. 28 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:46,640 Make sure you line up the dragster so that the front wheels are on zero. 29 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,760 Place your foot into the shoebox to hold it in place during the test. 30 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,440 Let's conduct the trials. 31 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:58,280 To propel our dragster down the track, we'll use a ratio of an effervescent tablet to water. 32 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:04,720 For the first trial, use the ratio of half a tablet of fuel to two teaspoons of water. 33 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:09,080 Fill the film canister with the water and hold it near the front of the shoebox. 34 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:14,720 Quickly drop the fuel tablet into the canister, snap on the lid, attach the canister to the 35 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,180 shoebox, and stand back. 36 00:02:17,180 --> 00:02:22,220 Average the distance your dragster traveled and record that distance on the data sheet. 37 00:02:22,220 --> 00:02:28,020 After every trial, rinse the film canister with clean water and dry it with a paper towel. 38 00:02:28,020 --> 00:02:34,820 Now, repeat the trial using the same ratio of water to fuel and record the distance traveled. 39 00:02:34,820 --> 00:02:37,900 Average the distance traveled for the two trials. 40 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:42,660 Remember how NASA engineers used prediction to determine which runway was best for the 41 00:02:42,660 --> 00:02:43,660 space shuttle? 42 00:02:43,660 --> 00:02:45,420 Let's do the same. 43 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:50,500 Look at your first trial and predict what size tablet might propel your dragster a greater 44 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:51,500 distance. 45 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:57,020 After you choose a different size tablet, run two trials with the new ratio. 46 00:02:57,020 --> 00:03:00,020 Be sure to use the same amount of water. 47 00:03:00,020 --> 00:03:03,900 Average the results like you did before and record on the data sheet. 48 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:08,900 Based on your findings, predict another size tablet that might propel your dragster an 49 00:03:08,900 --> 00:03:11,140 even greater distance. 50 00:03:11,140 --> 00:03:14,980 Run two trials on the new ratio and average the distance. 51 00:03:14,980 --> 00:03:19,500 After you've completed all your trials, your teacher will get you started on graphing your 52 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:23,820 data, then help you understand how to analyze the results. 53 00:03:23,820 --> 00:03:27,700 Now, how can we display the data that we collected? 54 00:03:27,700 --> 00:03:32,060 Think about the information that we collected and how we are going to compare it on the 55 00:03:32,060 --> 00:03:33,060 chart. 56 00:03:33,060 --> 00:03:39,780 Now that we have our graph displayed, I would like a member from each of the groups to come 57 00:03:39,780 --> 00:03:44,780 up and to plot the average of their trial run on the chart. 58 00:03:44,780 --> 00:03:55,780 Now that we've finished and we've collected all of our data, it is now time to analyze 59 00:03:55,780 --> 00:03:56,780 it. 60 00:03:56,780 --> 00:03:57,780 What type of graph is it? 61 00:03:57,780 --> 00:03:58,780 Is it a bar graph? 62 00:03:58,780 --> 00:03:59,780 Is it a line graph? 63 00:03:59,780 --> 00:04:00,780 Or is it a scatter plot? 64 00:04:00,780 --> 00:04:07,540 What was the maximum distance our dragster traveled? 65 00:04:07,540 --> 00:04:10,340 What tablet ratio produced the greatest distance? 66 00:04:10,340 --> 00:04:15,540 Do you think there is another tablet ratio that could produce an even greater distance? 67 00:04:15,540 --> 00:04:18,540 Okay, how can we find it out? 68 00:04:18,540 --> 00:04:20,540 Let's test it! 69 00:04:24,540 --> 00:04:29,540 NASA Connect would like to thank the Hampton Roads section of the AIAA for their help with 70 00:04:29,540 --> 00:04:31,540 the classroom activity. 71 00:04:31,540 --> 00:04:32,540 Hey teachers! 72 00:04:32,540 --> 00:04:37,100 If your students want to conduct this awesome activity, then visit the NASA Connect website 73 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:39,100 and download the lesson guide for this program. 74 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:42,100 And kids, make sure you visit our site too. 75 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:45,100 There are lots of exciting activities for you to check out.