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The Case of the Wright Invention

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Subido el 28 de mayo de 2007 por EducaMadrid

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NASA Sci Files video containing the following thirteen segments. NASA Sci Files segment explaining how brainstorming works to help students think creatively and come up with solutions to solve problems. NASA Sci Files segment exploring the new solar powered, flying wing aircraft called Helios. NASA Sci Files segment explaining the history of flight beginning with the Wright Brothers and continuing to today's inventions such as the International Space Station. NASA Sci Files segment exploring the fundamental concepts to designing an invention including doing research and recording detailed observations. NASA Sci Files segment exploring a museum of inventions and inventors. NASA Sci Files segment explaining models, why they are important, and how they are made. NASA Sci Files segment involving students in an experiment that studies night visibility and reflective surfaces. NASA Sci Files segment exploring the Patent and Trademark Museum and explains what patents and trademarks are. NASA Sci Files segment exploring reflective materials, how they are made, and how they work. NASA Sci Files segment explaining the steps of testing and why proper conditions for testing are required. NASA Sci Files segment exploring the design process and how wind tunnels are used in this process. NASA Sci Files segment exploring the invention process and the steps you take to solve a problem. NASA Sci Files segment exploring the Wright Brothers' and how they solved the problems of flight.

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You're behind the scenes on the set of Disney Channel's Eve and Stephen's. 00:00:00
My name is Margo Harshman. 00:00:30
I play Tawny Dean. 00:00:31
And let me tell you guys, I just love math and science. 00:00:32
I especially love solving problems, everybody else's problems. 00:00:35
You guys can't miss this episode of the NASA Y-Files. 00:00:40
It's a show about real life inventors who look at problem solving in a whole new way. 00:00:43
So why don't you go join the treehouse detectives and see if you can help them with their wacky 00:00:48
invention. 00:00:52
Hey you, who me, yeah you, come see our clubhouse in a tree. 00:00:54
We are kids on a mission to educate ourselves about the NASA vision. 00:00:59
Come explore math and science cause that's what makes our alliance. 00:01:04
We are the Y-Files club, we yearn to learn and want to see everything that we can be. 00:01:09
So come join us on our journey, don't you touch that dial. 00:01:16
And welcome to the NASA Y-Files. 00:01:21
In this episode of the Case of the Wright Invention, you'll be asked to answer the 00:01:28
following questions. 00:01:33
Who were Orville and Wilbur Wright? 00:01:36
How is the invention process similar to the scientific method? 00:01:39
And how do the treehouse detectives use the problem board for the invention process? 00:01:44
When you see this icon, it's a clue that the answer is near. 00:01:50
Now pay attention as the treehouse detectives uncover the Case of the Wright Invention. 00:01:54
I'm bored. 00:02:04
We need something fun to do. 00:02:05
We need an adventure. 00:02:07
Did I tell you? 00:02:08
I'm going to build a kite and enter it in the U.S. Air Force Museum annual kite festival 00:02:09
in Dayton, Ohio. 00:02:14
No way, that is so cool. 00:02:15
What kind? 00:02:17
I don't know yet. 00:02:18
I brought this really cool book. 00:02:19
It has all kinds of trivia. 00:02:20
Did you know that people in China have been flying kites for over 3,000 years? 00:02:22
You guys won't believe what happened to me yesterday. 00:02:27
I still can't believe it. 00:02:30
I was riding home from the treehouse as it was getting dark and a car almost hit me. 00:02:31
Are you alright? 00:02:36
Uh-huh, but it scared me. 00:02:37
I wish bikes were easy to see at night. 00:02:38
That happened to me once. 00:02:40
Maybe we could find something on bike safety on the Internet. 00:02:42
That's a good idea. 00:02:45
And in science news, today marks the first day of the annual Invention Innovation Convention. 00:02:47
Our reporter, I Am Listening, is down at the Thomas Edison Center with this report. 00:02:52
Thanks, Ted. 00:02:57
Kids from across the country are gathering here to showcase their latest and greatest inventions, 00:02:58
each one hoping to win the coveted Kid Genius Award. 00:03:03
Kids' Science News Network will be bringing you live up-to-the-minute coverage of this historic event. 00:03:07
Back to you, Ted. 00:03:12
I wish someone would invent a device that holds scalding hot coffee. 00:03:15
Ow! 00:03:18
What an amazing invention. 00:03:21
This is Ted Toon saying goodnight from KSNN. 00:03:23
Now you're talking. 00:03:26
Yeah, we can do this. 00:03:28
We should have entered contests because I bet we could win. 00:03:29
We're the treehouse detectives. 00:03:32
I know we can win this contest with our... 00:03:34
Invention. 00:03:37
We won the Extraordinary Contest last year, didn't we? 00:03:38
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the treehouse detectives, I am honored to accept this award. 00:03:41
But what should we invent? 00:03:47
Yeah, come on, we can do this. 00:03:50
We just have to put our minds to it. 00:03:52
We always start at the beginning. 00:03:54
Yeah, ask questions. 00:03:56
Like, what do inventors do? 00:03:58
What's an inventor? 00:04:00
Here we go. 00:04:01
The Wright Brothers. 00:04:03
They were really big inventors. 00:04:04
This is a story about how they invented the... 00:04:06
Aerial plane. 00:04:09
Oh, I get it. The airplane. 00:04:12
When you drive a wagon, you don't have to worry about it tipping over, do you? 00:04:14
Well, that depends upon the smoothness of the road. 00:04:19
Pay attention. 00:04:22
No, you steer a wagon to make it go where you want it to go, 00:04:25
but you don't have to worry about it tipping over because it's stable. 00:04:29
However, a bicycle is completely different. 00:04:34
When you're riding a bicycle, you have to steer like a wagon, 00:04:38
but you must also constantly shift your weight from side to side as you ride 00:04:42
to prevent the bicycle from falling over because it's an unstable vehicle. 00:04:47
What are you getting at, Wilbur? 00:04:52
Well, instead of stability, we should concentrate on the ability to control an airplane. 00:04:54
It should be an unstable vehicle. 00:05:00
You should have to balance an airplane in the air. 00:05:03
Much like you have to balance on a bicycle. 00:05:06
Isn't that what birds do? Balance in the air. 00:05:08
Yes. The problem of balance is the problem of flight itself. 00:05:10
We can control the pitch and yaw of an airplane, 00:05:16
but no one's been able to control the rolling from side to side. 00:05:20
Wilbur, I believe we can. 00:05:25
It's only a question of knowledge and skill, as in all acrobatic feats. 00:05:29
It may not be as easy as learning to ride a bicycle, 00:05:34
but this is a problem we can solve. 00:05:38
You and I. 00:05:41
Well, Wilbur, what are we waiting for? We've got work to do. 00:05:44
That was really strange. 00:05:48
It was like I was really there talking to the Wright Brothers. 00:05:50
Maybe this is a clue. 00:05:54
The Wright Brothers must realize that they can solve the problem of flight, as they called it, 00:05:55
once they understood the basic problem. 00:05:59
You know what? Let's talk to Dr. D. 00:06:01
Yeah. He'll know where we should start. 00:06:03
Like Wilbur said, what are we waiting for? We've got work to do. Let's go. 00:06:06
I'll download a Get Up and Go form from the NASA Y-Files website. 00:06:10
Hi, Dr. D. 00:06:18
Hi, kids. What's up? 00:06:20
We want to become great inventors, but we don't know where to start. 00:06:21
Can you help us? 00:06:24
How do you get an idea for an invention? 00:06:26
Hold on. Take this one step at a time. 00:06:28
The first thing you have to understand is the invention process. 00:06:30
Is that anything like the scientific method? 00:06:33
Very similar. 00:06:36
In the scientific method, you start by identifying or recognizing a problem. 00:06:37
In the invention process, you begin by identifying a need or want. 00:06:47
A list of things that annoy or frustrate you is a starting point. 00:06:50
You might call this a bug list. 00:06:53
I know lots of things that bug me, like my sister. 00:06:54
Let's take an example that you're a bug because you're always losing your portable CD player. 00:06:57
The next step in the invention process is to think of solutions to the need or want. 00:07:01
That sounds a lot like the second step in the scientific method. 00:07:05
An idea would be to paint the CD player a bright color so that you can see it easily. 00:07:09
I like the idea to have it beep when you clap your hands. 00:07:13
You're really getting into this now. 00:07:15
Once an inventor has a list of possible solutions, 00:07:17
the next step is to evaluate each one to decide which one to develop. 00:07:21
Maybe we could choose the cheapest one. 00:07:24
Or maybe we could choose the one that we can make by ourselves. 00:07:27
Yes, once you have standards or criteria, it helps to be able to judge amongst the possible solutions. 00:07:30
You can then do research to narrow it down. 00:07:35
The next step is to make a model and test it. 00:07:37
That's like testing the hypothesis. 00:07:39
That's right. 00:07:41
So if we use the bright color, we have to test it to find out which color worked best. 00:07:42
I'll bet inventors alter and improve their models as they test it. 00:07:47
Just like we have to modify our hypothesis if it doesn't match the data. 00:07:50
You guys are really getting good at this. 00:07:54
Make sure you keep an accurate record of your entire process. 00:07:56
It's really important. 00:07:59
It's like keeping a science journal. 00:08:00
Well, I saw a design log on the National Wildlife Fund's website. 00:08:02
It should help us keep track of our ideas and progress. 00:08:05
I'm sure we'll find plenty of cool ideas to put on our bug list. 00:08:08
Or our needy list. 00:08:12
Wait a minute. 00:08:14
Something that I really need. 00:08:15
I'm trying to find a really great way to show the scientific principle of inertia. 00:08:17
Isn't inertia something about objects at rest staying at rest? 00:08:21
Yes, that's pretty good. 00:08:24
It also explains that objects in motion remain in motion unless a force acts upon them. 00:08:26
I've always used a bowling ball to explain the part about staying in motion, 00:08:30
but I want to find a more exciting way to do it. 00:08:33
How can we help? 00:08:35
Why don't you think of some possibilities, and we'll talk about it later. 00:08:36
Hey, I've got an idea for you. 00:08:39
Why don't you take out the National Gallery of Young Inventors 00:08:41
and see who's inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame this year? 00:08:43
Let's use your computer, Dr. D. 00:08:46
Go right ahead. 00:08:48
I read about someone named Lindsey Clement from Longview, Texas. 00:08:49
She's being inducted into the National Gallery of Young Inventors. 00:08:53
Let's contact her and ask her about her invention. 00:08:56
Hi, you must be Lindsey Clement. 00:09:01
We're the Treehouse Detectives, and we wanted to ask you about your invention. 00:09:03
Sure. 00:09:07
Exactly what does your invention do? 00:09:08
This is a gumball machine. 00:09:10
It helps pick up sweet gumballs in my backyard. 00:09:12
How does it work? 00:09:14
As you push the machine forward, 00:09:16
these mesh wheels grab the gumballs and carry them around to the front, 00:09:18
where they are collected in this basket. 00:09:22
How did you come up with the idea for your invention? 00:09:24
Well, I was at the driving range with my dad, 00:09:27
and I saw the golf ball collector cart picking up the golf balls, 00:09:29
and I figured if it worked for golf balls, why couldn't it work for gumballs? 00:09:33
That's cool. 00:09:36
What did you do first? 00:09:38
Well, first I started drawing to see what it might look like, 00:09:40
and then I started building. 00:09:43
What was the most difficult part? 00:09:45
Probably finding something that would actually pick up the gumballs. 00:09:47
I experimented with lots of different materials 00:09:50
until I finally came up with wire mesh. 00:09:52
That's great. 00:09:55
We're trying to make our own invention. Do you have any advice? 00:09:57
If you have anything that you think might solve a problem or help fix something, 00:10:00
stick with it. 00:10:04
Be willing to try new things if they don't work. 00:10:05
And design and test your ideas. 00:10:08
You really have nothing to lose. 00:10:10
Especially when you end up being inducted into the National Gallery of Young Inventors. 00:10:12
Maybe we'll be there one day. 00:10:17
What an honor. Congratulations. 00:10:19
I wonder if the Wright Brothers had a bug list. 00:10:21
My bug or me list is long. 00:10:24
Not as long as mine! 00:10:26
Ah! Crazy! 00:10:28
You're not afraid of bugs. 00:10:31
Ow! 00:10:36
This is really weird. 00:10:47
Have you ever seen anything like this? 00:10:50
This place makes me feel like I'm going back in time. 00:10:53
Okay, is this really happening? 00:10:57
Ow! 00:11:00
Okay, I'll be brave and walk right up to him. 00:11:03
Excuse me, sir. Could you help me? 00:11:08
That's it! Orville! Orville, I've got it! 00:11:11
Excuse me. 00:11:15
I figured it out. 00:11:19
Look, I've solved the control problem. It's right here. 00:11:21
Watch. As I squeeze and release, the wings rotate up and down. 00:11:24
Hello? What are you doing? 00:11:29
Oh, excuse me. I'm Orville Wright. This is my brother Wilbur. 00:11:31
Wilbur may have just discovered the answer to the basic problem of flight control. 00:11:34
Here. Pretend this box is an eagle. 00:11:38
If you twist the box in the middle, one wing rotates down, causing the air to go over it, making it go down. 00:11:40
The other wing rotates up, causing the air to go under it, making it go up. 00:11:47
We've observed birds doing this. 00:11:51
Now we think we've discovered a way to do the same thing with an aeroplane. 00:11:53
Please excuse us. We have so much work to do. 00:11:56
I bet you do. May I take a picture of you before I go? 00:11:59
Great. Thanks a lot. 00:12:06
That was an interesting idea. Where'd you get it? 00:12:08
My brother. Go figure. 00:12:11
Dr. D was right. It takes lots of work to allow yourself to see things in new ways. 00:12:14
Guys, the most unbelievable thing just happened. Look at this picture I just took. 00:12:19
You saw me take this picture of the Wright brothers. 00:12:26
You took that? Amazing. 00:12:28
That's not real. I knew you wouldn't believe it, but I was just talking to Orville and Wilbur Wright. 00:12:31
Huh? Impossible. How could they still be alive? 00:12:37
Well, I can't explain it, but it was as if they were just discovering the concept of wing warping. 00:12:41
They'd already identified their problem, and it was as if I was watching them take their first step towards solving it. 00:12:47
Maybe we need to take our first step. 00:12:53
But we haven't identified the problem yet. 00:12:55
Let's look at the bug board. So many of our ideas are about bike safety. Why don't we work on that? 00:12:57
I'll go to the problem board. 00:13:03
I think we should concentrate on making them more visible at night. 00:13:05
Works for me. 00:13:09
Good. Now what do we need to know? 00:13:10
I think we need to know more about being an inventor and the history of invention. 00:13:12
How do we do that? 00:13:17
Not sure, but maybe it would help if we found out what other inventors do. 00:13:18
I'm typing in the keyword, inventing. Here's the list of search results. 00:13:25
This site says there's a museum in Washington, D.C. 00:13:31
The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. 00:13:34
It's part of the National Museum of American History. 00:13:38
It sounds like one of the treehouse detectives needs to get up and go. 00:13:41
So what's up? How can the treehouse detectives make their bike more visible at night? 00:13:45
What's the next step in the invention process? 00:13:50
Do the treehouse detectives have the right stuff to be inventors? 00:13:53
You'll find out on the next segment of The Case of the Right Invention. 00:13:56
In Part 2 of The Case of the Right Invention, you'll find out... 00:14:11
What is brainstorming? 00:14:15
What do the treehouse detectives learn about evaluating ideas? 00:14:18
And how does Dr. Harrison help the treehouse detectives? 00:14:23
Hi, are you Mr. Judd? 00:14:30
Yes, I am. Can I help you? 00:14:32
I'm Bianca, one of the treehouse detectives. 00:14:33
Treehouse what? 00:14:35
Treehouse detectives. We're entering an invention contest, and we need to learn more about inventors. 00:14:36
Well, you've come to the right place. 00:14:41
What do you do here? 00:14:43
What do you do here? 00:14:44
Well, we do lots of things here. 00:14:45
But we study invention, we do programs for young people, and we also collect papers from inventors. 00:14:47
Papers, like the journals they use to keep notes on their inventions? 00:14:54
That's right. 00:14:59
Are there a lot of famous inventors? 00:15:00
Well, there are, but there are a lot you may not have heard of either. 00:15:02
People like Bueller Henry. 00:15:05
She had some 48 patents, which had all sorts of inventions, like parasails and toys, and even an ice cream freezer in 1912. 00:15:07
I bet she had a big bug list. 00:15:16
You might want to read about Stephanie Qualic. 00:15:20
Is she a scientist? 00:15:22
Yes, she went to school to study chemistry, and then she invented a stuff called Kevlar. 00:15:24
What is Kevlar? 00:15:28
Kevlar is a super strong fiber that's in everything from boats to airplanes today. 00:15:30
In fact, we have an example here in our Gold Rush bicycle of a Kevlar. 00:15:35
Can anyone be an inventor? 00:15:40
Yes, we can all be inventive, but I think there will only be one Wright Brothers. 00:15:42
How do you become an inventor? 00:15:47
Inventors are curious about things, and they also try to improve inventions. 00:15:49
And you know, some inventions just happen by accident. 00:15:53
I'm sure whoever made these bikes had a lot of fun. 00:15:56
Yes, sometimes people do invent just for fun. 00:15:59
In fact, we've got a new exhibition, Invention at Play, 00:16:03
which will encourage people to develop their own creativity through play. 00:16:06
Maybe we can come back for that. 00:16:10
We're having trouble figuring out what to invent. 00:16:12
Our problem is how to make bicycles safer at night. 00:16:14
Coming up with a solution is often the hardest part. 00:16:17
Frequently, you have to keep trying different solutions before you get the bundle to work. 00:16:20
Well, I hadn't thought of that. 00:16:25
Maybe if I look around at some of the great inventions, I'll get some ideas. 00:16:27
Yes, take a look at our bicycle collection. 00:16:31
And also take a look at our solar-powered car. 00:16:34
Definitely. Thanks, Mr. Jeff, for all your help. 00:16:37
You're welcome. 00:16:39
Hello, Treehouse Inventors. 00:16:45
Well, we're not inventors yet. 00:16:47
If we know our problem, Mr. John at the Linsen Center said that a problem can have more than one solution. 00:16:49
But we're having trouble finding at least one. 00:16:54
Do you have any ideas? 00:16:57
Just the thing for you. 00:16:58
It's called brainstorming. 00:16:59
But I forgot to bring my umbrella. 00:17:01
Very funny. 00:17:03
Brainstorming is something that helps you think creatively. 00:17:04
Is that where we get together and toss aside ideas? 00:17:06
Yes, it is. 00:17:09
But there are certain rules you have to follow. 00:17:10
Someone has to record the ideas. 00:17:12
Everyone needs to contribute ideas. 00:17:13
And all ideas are accepted. 00:17:15
What if one of the ideas is silly? 00:17:17
That's all right. 00:17:19
You're encouraged to give wild, silly, or even way out ideas in addition to the practical ones. 00:17:20
I'll be good at brainstorming. 00:17:24
How do we start? 00:17:27
You already have your problem. 00:17:28
How to make a bite more visible at night. 00:17:29
I printed off a brainstorming web from the Y-Files website. 00:17:31
It's a tool for brainstorming. 00:17:35
Thanks, Dr. D. 00:17:37
Why don't you practice by brainstorming my problem of inertia. 00:17:38
Objects in motion remain in motion. 00:17:41
Set a time limit. 00:17:43
Come up with as many solutions as you possibly can. 00:17:44
Okay. 00:17:47
Let's sit in a circle. 00:17:48
I'll put the timer on five minutes. 00:17:49
I've got the timer. 00:17:57
Okay, I'll be the recorder. 00:17:58
Okay, let's go. 00:18:00
I think it should be something on wheels. 00:18:01
How about a catapult that flings things far in the air? 00:18:03
Or smoke rings. 00:18:06
That'd be cool. 00:18:07
How about a paper airplane? 00:18:09
I'd like to use a watermelon. 00:18:11
That's a silly idea. 00:18:12
Remember now, no criticism. 00:18:14
Okay. 00:18:16
What do we do now? 00:18:17
Are there any solutions that are similar can be grouped together? 00:18:18
Yeah, like catapulting a watermelon. 00:18:21
See, I told you a watermelon wasn't a bad idea. 00:18:23
If you don't mind a big mess. 00:18:26
Thanks for all the ideas. 00:18:28
I'll let you know what I decide to do. 00:18:29
Remember, never judge any ideas during the brainstorming, 00:18:31
only afterwards during the evaluation. 00:18:33
How do you evaluate something? 00:18:36
You need to talk to my friend, Dr. Catherine Fay, 00:18:38
at NASA Langley Research Center. 00:18:40
That's a great idea. 00:18:42
Thanks, Dr. D. 00:18:43
Hi, Dr. Fay. 00:18:46
This looks really cool. 00:18:47
Hi, kids. 00:18:49
Welcome to the lab. 00:18:50
What is all this stuff? 00:18:51
These are various inventions 00:18:52
that Langley researchers have developed 00:18:54
here in Hampton, Virginia. 00:18:56
Are you an inventor? 00:18:58
Yes, I'm an inventor. 00:18:59
But my job is to research solutions 00:19:00
to problems that NASA has in aeronautics and space. 00:19:02
And some of these solutions turn into inventions. 00:19:05
If you have a creative, innovative environment, 00:19:07
inventions will happen. 00:19:09
What are some of these inventions? 00:19:11
This is a colorless poly image 00:19:14
that was invented by several Langley scientists 00:19:16
and is used as a flat panel reflector 00:19:19
on solar rays on satellites in space. 00:19:21
All these things look great, 00:19:24
but how do the researchers know if they're good ideas? 00:19:26
First, as a researcher or an inventor, 00:19:29
you need to define your problem. 00:19:32
Then, you need to test your proposed ideas. 00:19:34
You collect the data and analyze it 00:19:37
and see if it works. 00:19:39
If it doesn't work, then you need to reevaluate. 00:19:40
Maybe you modify it, 00:19:43
or maybe you start with a new idea. 00:19:44
That's why collecting data is important? 00:19:46
Yes, collecting and analyzing the data 00:19:48
helps determine if your solution meets the requirements. 00:19:51
So, what do we do with our bad ideas? 00:19:54
Do we just throw them away? 00:19:56
No, the idea might not answer this solution. 00:19:58
But the data collected is good 00:20:01
because it will help you determine other solutions. 00:20:03
Well, is that it? 00:20:05
We collect the data to test our product, and we're done? 00:20:07
You might want to consider a few more things in the evaluation. 00:20:09
First, can I make it? 00:20:12
And second, can I afford it? 00:20:14
Could you help us get started? 00:20:16
Tell me one of your ideas to solve the problem. 00:20:18
We thought of maybe painting our bike 00:20:20
to solve the problem of making us more visible at night. 00:20:22
That's a good idea. 00:20:25
I think you should consider 00:20:26
what kind of paint you're going to use 00:20:27
and where you're going to paint it on the bicycle, 00:20:29
on the frame or the tires or both. 00:20:31
Then you need to decide how you're going to determine 00:20:33
whether you're really visible at night. 00:20:35
I think we need to go and have a brainstorming session. 00:20:37
Yeah. 00:20:39
After your brainstorming session, send me an email, 00:20:40
and I can put you in touch with researchers 00:20:42
that develop reflective materials. 00:20:44
Thanks. I'll keep in touch. 00:20:46
Bye, Dr. Fay. 00:20:48
Bye. 00:20:49
Bye. 00:20:50
That was a great brainstorming session. 00:20:52
Yeah. Look at our list now. 00:20:54
But some of them are pretty silly. 00:20:56
Well, some of the silly ones led to some really good ones. 00:20:58
Let's start evaluating. 00:21:01
Remember, Dr. Fay said we have to decide 00:21:03
on a set of criteria for evaluating our ideas. 00:21:05
It can't be too costly. 00:21:08
Yeah, because I don't have much money. 00:21:10
It also has to be something easy for people to use, 00:21:12
and it should work, 00:21:15
and we should be able to make it ourselves. 00:21:17
A reflective helmet would be pretty easy to make. 00:21:19
And it wouldn't cost you much. 00:21:22
It would certainly be easy to put on. 00:21:24
Anyone could do it. 00:21:26
But we'd have to test it to make sure it would work. 00:21:28
How about this idea of the flashing lights? 00:21:30
It would sure be easy to do. 00:21:32
We could just stick a light on our bike. 00:21:34
That might not work so well, 00:21:36
And that'd be expensive. 00:21:39
Look at this list. We have a lot of evaluating to do. 00:21:41
I better go home. I gotta get ready for the kite festival. 00:21:44
I wish we could go, but we'll stay here and keep evaluating. 00:21:47
Today is a great day for flying kites, 00:22:08
and that's what we're going to do. 00:22:10
Of course, we have to build it. 00:22:12
Who knows what shape kite we are building today? 00:22:14
What kind? 00:22:17
In designing the invention, 00:22:19
there are a few fundamental concepts 00:22:21
they'll need to understand. 00:22:23
Research what is already known about the idea. 00:22:25
We observed that hawks soar better than buzzards, 00:22:27
and that hawks also maintain their speed. 00:22:30
We observed that hawks fly faster than buzzards, 00:22:32
and that hawks also maintain their speed. 00:22:34
We observed that hawks fly faster than buzzards, 00:22:36
and that hawks also maintain their balance 00:22:38
in strong winds better than buzzards. 00:22:40
Why? Because their wings are shaped very differently. 00:22:42
The wings of a hawk arch up a little 00:22:45
and then flatten at the tip. 00:22:47
A buzzard's wing gradually angles upward 00:22:49
all the way to the end. 00:22:52
And then they'll need to keep a journal. 00:22:54
It is essential for them to keep very careful 00:22:56
and accurate records of everything they do on the project. 00:22:58
Hi! My friends don't believe 00:23:02
that Orville and Wilbur Wright, 00:23:04
so could you sign this picture I took of you? 00:23:06
Hey! Where'd they go? 00:23:10
I know I'm not crazy. 00:23:12
I just saw Orville and Wilbur Wright. 00:23:14
Huh? 00:23:19
You won't believe who I just saw. 00:23:21
Those same two guys from the bicycle shop. 00:23:23
And they call themselves Wilbur and Orville. 00:23:25
That's awesome, Jacob! 00:23:27
Pay really close attention, 00:23:29
because you'll probably learn lots of stuff 00:23:31
Yeah! 00:23:34
Could Jacob really be seeing the Wright Brothers? 00:23:36
Maybe they're actors pretending to be Orville and Wilbur. 00:23:38
They're not pretending. 00:23:41
I'm telling you guys, this is the real deal. 00:23:43
Okay, we believe you. 00:23:45
I read somewhere that the Wright Brothers 00:23:47
became interested in flight 00:23:49
after their father gave them a toy helicopter. 00:23:51
And listen to this. 00:23:53
The Wright Brothers were self-taught engineers, 00:23:55
neither of whom attended college. 00:23:57
I wonder if their parents were really smart. 00:23:59
She loved math and science. 00:24:01
Like me. 00:24:03
But will you graduate top of your college class like she did? 00:24:05
Of course. 00:24:07
Listen guys, we got a lot of work to do. 00:24:09
We narrowed down our ideas. 00:24:11
But what are we going to choose from? 00:24:13
The Wright Brothers said to research 00:24:15
and find out all that is known about our idea. 00:24:17
Let's go to the problem board and see what we need to do next. 00:24:19
Okay. 00:24:21
You know our problem is to make bikes more visible at night. 00:24:23
And that anyone can be an inventor. 00:24:25
We know that inventors brainstorm 00:24:27
and come up with a problem. 00:24:29
And then Dr. Fay said to determine the criteria for evaluation. 00:24:31
That means we're on the right track. 00:24:33
So what do we need to know? 00:24:35
I think we need to research how to make things more visible at night. 00:24:37
Like materials that reflect. 00:24:39
I'll go to the library. 00:24:41
Hey guys, wait. 00:24:43
I just got an email from Dr. Fay. 00:24:45
She says to check out her colleague, Dr. Harrison. 00:24:47
She works with reflective materials. 00:24:49
Sounds like that's our next stop. 00:24:51
Wow, this is neat. 00:24:53
Are we in the right place? 00:24:55
Well, you're in the right place. 00:24:57
I'm Dr. Joycelyn Harrison and I work here 00:24:59
in the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch 00:25:01
at NASA Langley Research Center. 00:25:03
But since you guys are in the lab, 00:25:05
could you do me a favor and put these safety glasses on? 00:25:07
We have to always remember to use safety first. 00:25:09
Well, we're trying to solve the problem 00:25:11
of making our bikes more visible at night. 00:25:13
And we want to use reflective materials. 00:25:15
We were hoping you could help us. 00:25:17
Do you know anything about reflective materials? 00:25:19
Yes. 00:25:21
Here at NASA Langley, we do research 00:25:23
on developing reflective plastics. 00:25:25
Here's an example of a reflective plastic film 00:25:27
that we developed right here. 00:25:29
Wow, this is really lightweight. 00:25:31
This would look really cool on our bike. 00:25:33
How do you make it? 00:25:35
Well, we start off with this clear polymer solution 00:25:37
that has metal ions 00:25:39
dissolved in it. 00:25:41
And then we pour it on these glass plates. 00:25:43
And then we bake it in these big ovens. 00:25:45
You bake here? 00:25:47
Yes, actually, chemists do bake. 00:25:49
But we call it curing. 00:25:51
While curing, the metal ions in the material 00:25:53
migrate to the surface of the material. 00:25:55
And we end up with a very reflective plastic. 00:25:57
Wow. 00:25:59
I thought that only metals were reflective. 00:26:01
Why does NASA use reflective plastics? 00:26:03
Well, you guys come with me 00:26:05
and I'll show you an example 00:26:07
of how NASA uses materials just like this. 00:26:09
Come on. 00:26:11
What is this? 00:26:15
I've never seen anything like this before. 00:26:17
It's so tall. 00:26:19
This is a reflective antenna. 00:26:21
Actually, it would have to be about 00:26:23
five times larger than this to be used in space. 00:26:25
NASA puts antennas like this 00:26:27
in space to collect energy 00:26:29
or signals for communications 00:26:31
and scientific measurements. 00:26:33
Why does it have to be so shiny? 00:26:35
It needs to be reflective 00:26:37
so that we can focus the energy to where we want it to go, 00:26:39
like to a location on Earth 00:26:41
or to a science instrument on a satellite, 00:26:43
for example. 00:26:45
We really need reflective materials, too. 00:26:47
We're trying to make our bikes safer at night. 00:26:49
I don't think we could build anything like that. 00:26:51
Do you have any suggestions for our bike? 00:26:53
Well, what kind of things do you think 00:26:55
could help you see your bikes at night? 00:26:57
We had a brainstorming session 00:26:59
and came up with a few ideas, 00:27:01
like stickers, maybe paint. 00:27:03
Yes, but just make sure 00:27:05
that those lights and stickers are reflective 00:27:07
so that the light will bounce off them. 00:27:09
You might also consider using some reflective gear. 00:27:11
Gear? 00:27:13
Yes, like reflective vests, 00:27:15
helmets, or even tennis shoes. 00:27:17
We'll get started. Thanks for your help. 00:27:19
We really appreciate it. 00:27:21
Bye, Dr. Harrison. 00:27:23
So what's up? 00:27:25
Are reflective materials the answer to the problem? 00:27:27
What should the Treehouse Detectives 00:27:29
research next? 00:27:31
Don't miss the next segment of 00:27:33
The Case of the Right Invention. 00:27:35
The Case of the Right Invention 00:27:37
Watch carefully 00:27:49
and you'll learn the following. 00:27:51
How do the Y-Files Kids Club 00:27:53
experiments help the Treehouse Detectives? 00:27:55
What is iterative 00:27:57
design? 00:27:59
Why are models important? 00:28:01
Did you know... 00:28:07
Oh, no, not again. 00:28:09
I'm the trivia king. You'd like this one. 00:28:11
Did you know that Wilbur Wright turned his hat 00:28:13
like this when he was ready to fly his plane? 00:28:15
Cool. Maybe he started the trend. 00:28:17
Okay, guys. 00:28:19
Back to business. 00:28:21
Dr. Harrison said that there are a lot of good ways to paint. 00:28:23
I mean, cover a bike in reflective coatings. 00:28:25
I wonder if any NASA Kids Club 00:28:27
members have done experiments 00:28:29
on visibility or reflective coatings. 00:28:31
Jacob, would you check that out for us? 00:28:33
Here's a school. 00:28:35
Virginia Stevens 00:28:37
in Riverside, near Dayton, Ohio. 00:28:39
Let's see what they're doing. 00:28:41
Hi. 00:28:43
My name is Erica Hartley 00:28:45
from Mr. Mark Bermudez's 00:28:47
third grade class in Riverside, Ohio. 00:28:49
We are proud to be 00:28:51
an AIAA school 00:28:53
which stands for 00:28:55
American Institute of Aeronautics 00:28:57
and Astronautics. 00:28:59
We need your help. 00:29:01
Would you like to do an experiment on reflective surfaces? 00:29:03
Sure. 00:29:05
We started off with a problem. 00:29:07
We needed to find the most visible material 00:29:09
for bike safety at night. 00:29:11
That's so funny. 00:29:13
We have the same problem. 00:29:15
What did you do? 00:29:17
We did a fun experiment. 00:29:19
It's really easy. 00:29:21
We tested four items. 00:29:23
A five centimeter by ten centimeter 00:29:25
piece of white poster board 00:29:27
with fluorescent paint, 00:29:29
a white poster board strip 00:29:31
and a reflective sticker. 00:29:33
I've seen this experiment before. 00:29:35
First you start by taking a piece of clay 00:29:37
and dividing it into four equal parts. 00:29:39
Then you take the clay and roll it into small balls. 00:29:41
And then you set the balls and the table 00:29:43
in a straight line about eight centimeters apart. 00:29:45
Then you take each test item 00:29:47
and insert it into the balls of clay. 00:29:49
How did you do the test? 00:29:51
It's easy. 00:29:53
Shine a beam of light 00:29:55
on the first item 00:29:57
and observe. 00:29:59
Then record your observations 00:30:01
on your data sheet. 00:30:03
After you conduct the experiment 00:30:05
give each item a safety rating. 00:30:07
Number one stands 00:30:09
for poor visibility 00:30:11
and number five means 00:30:13
the item is very visible at night. 00:30:15
Did you find out which items 00:30:17
work best for bike safety at night? 00:30:19
Yes. 00:30:21
We came up with several findings 00:30:23
from our data chart. 00:30:25
Neon pink paper 00:30:27
like this one here is noticeable 00:30:29
but it doesn't reflect light. 00:30:31
The glow stick 00:30:33
produced its own light 00:30:35
and was really visible 00:30:37
but it can only last for so long. 00:30:39
Yeah, the glow sticks only work 00:30:41
for ten hours and it only gives off light. 00:30:43
It doesn't reflect it. 00:30:45
The fluorescent paint 00:30:47
doesn't really glow at all. 00:30:49
Our top score is the reflective sticker. 00:30:51
It reflects light well 00:30:53
and it's good 00:30:55
for night visibility. 00:30:57
We hope this helps you. 00:30:59
Bye! 00:31:01
Thanks. Later. 00:31:03
That really helps. 00:31:05
Street signs and the tape on my tennis shoes 00:31:07
are examples of reflective materials. 00:31:09
This might be the answer. 00:31:11
If a material is reflective it can be seen easily 00:31:13
when a car's headlights hit it. 00:31:15
The Y-Files Kids Club comes through again. 00:31:17
If you enjoy experiments 00:31:19
and hands-on learning as much as we do 00:31:21
be sure to visit Dr. D's lab 00:31:23
inside the treehouse on NASA Y-Files' website. 00:31:25
Dr. D, 00:31:31
we've narrowed our ideas down to just two. 00:31:33
We could paint the bike with a reflective coating 00:31:35
or make our clothing more visible. 00:31:37
Well, now what you need to do 00:31:39
is test your ideas. 00:31:41
Invention work is not just theoretical. 00:31:43
It can't just look good on paper. 00:31:45
It actually has to work. 00:31:47
So how do we do that? 00:31:49
At NASA we've seen a lot of engineers 00:31:51
building airplane models 00:31:53
and then testing it in wind tunnels. 00:31:55
It's a lot easier to build, test, and analyze a model 00:31:57
than a full-sized object. 00:31:59
Does that mean we should build a miniature bicycle to test? 00:32:01
No, if you're testing reflective coatings 00:32:03
a model might just be a small piece of metal 00:32:05
that you paint. 00:32:07
We need to experiment with the model 00:32:09
to find out which paint makes the bike most visible. 00:32:11
And we need to test it in a variety of different situations. 00:32:13
That's right. 00:32:15
Just like the scientific method 00:32:17
we need to be testing very carefully. 00:32:19
That means we need to change just one variable at a time. 00:32:21
I remember all those details. 00:32:23
And don't forget, 00:32:25
we need to keep careful records. 00:32:27
Let me show you what I did with my project. 00:32:29
I ruled out watermelons 00:32:31
because I'd have to do it inside. 00:32:33
And ideas like paper airplanes 00:32:35
just didn't meet my criteria of being spectacular. 00:32:37
I did a little research, 00:32:39
came up with a basic idea, 00:32:41
and built a model to test. 00:32:43
Did it work? 00:32:45
I broke this box and tried out different sized holes 00:32:47
and I used a bee smoker to produce the smoke. 00:32:49
What's a bee smoker? 00:32:51
It's a smoldering fire 00:32:53
and it produces a lot of smoke. 00:32:55
It's what beekeepers use to calm the bees 00:32:57
when they're tending the hive. 00:32:59
I went through the process of build, test, analyze, 00:33:01
and then redesign many times. 00:33:03
And I finally have a box 00:33:05
that works pretty good. 00:33:07
Let me show you. 00:33:09
That's fun. 00:33:17
My dad helps out at the theater 00:33:19
and they have a smoke machine 00:33:21
that works even better. 00:33:23
What a wonderful idea. 00:33:25
See, it's great to work together as a team 00:33:27
on the invention process. 00:33:29
I think it's time for both you and me 00:33:31
to put together a prototype of our inventions. 00:33:33
What's a prototype? 00:33:35
Well, once you feel pretty good about your testing, 00:33:37
it's time to build a full-size working model to test, 00:33:39
which is called a prototype. 00:33:41
Oh, that's when we use a real prototype. 00:33:43
Oh, that's when we use a real bike. 00:33:45
I can almost taste victory. 00:33:47
I think we can do this, 00:33:49
but I'm still not clear on this model-making thing. 00:33:51
Well, there are two projects going on right now 00:33:53
at NASA Langley Research Center 00:33:55
that will help you learn more about model building. 00:33:57
I'll give both researchers a call for you. 00:33:59
Let's divide into two groups 00:34:01
and take our investigation log 00:34:03
and record what we learned. 00:34:05
I'll call Kaylee and see if she can go on a field trip. 00:34:07
Then we can share what we learned with each other. 00:34:09
Let's get up and go. 00:34:11
Nice to meet you, Mr. Wozak. 00:34:13
Nice meeting you. 00:34:15
This is a wind tunnel, isn't it? 00:34:17
What do you do here? 00:34:19
We're testing a new kind of airplane. 00:34:21
A micro air vehicle, 00:34:23
or MAV for short. 00:34:25
Is this a real plane? 00:34:27
It looks more like a bird or a bat or something. 00:34:29
Well, you're pretty close. 00:34:31
It's about the size of a bird, 00:34:33
and we use what we know about how birds, 00:34:35
bats, and insects fly to help design it. 00:34:37
Do you test your models? 00:34:39
Testing is an important part of the design process. 00:34:41
That's why we're here, 00:34:43
to learn more about the design process. 00:34:45
Well, design is the process by which you turn 00:34:47
ideas into reality. 00:34:49
Ideas often involve contributions from many different people. 00:34:51
We collaborate or work together 00:34:53
by sharing ideas to improve our design. 00:34:55
Kind of like us. 00:34:57
We work together as a team. 00:34:59
We collaborate. 00:35:01
That's great. For MAVs, we're working with 00:35:03
aerodynamicists, controls engineers, wind tunnel engineers, 00:35:05
technicians, and even biologists. 00:35:07
Biologists? 00:35:09
That's right. Biologists help to better understand how animals fly. 00:35:11
And we can design and build airplanes 00:35:13
that use the same principles. 00:35:15
Through collaboration, we help each other, 00:35:17
and we can iterate to get a better design. 00:35:19
Iter what? 00:35:21
Iterate. It almost always takes lots of tries and retries 00:35:23
before you get an effective design. 00:35:25
Iteration refers to the process by which 00:35:27
we design, build, test, and analyze our data. 00:35:29
Data collection 00:35:31
is another part of the scientific process. 00:35:33
From our data, we modify our design. 00:35:35
We repeat the process over and over again 00:35:37
until we get it right. 00:35:39
So collaboration and iterative design 00:35:41
help you come up with this. 00:35:43
But what are you going to do with such a small plane? 00:35:45
Well, we're going to use it to be our eyes 00:35:47
and other senses to go to places 00:35:49
we can't get to or are too dangerous to go. 00:35:51
That is so awesome! 00:35:53
I guess we need to get back to the treehouse 00:35:55
so we can collaborate and iterate. 00:35:57
That's right. And remember to use what you learn 00:35:59
to make your designs better. 00:36:01
Thank you very much, Mr. Wozak. 00:36:03
This was really great. 00:36:05
Oh, yeah. Thanks a lot. See you. 00:36:07
Bye. 00:36:09
You must be one of the treehouse detectives. 00:36:11
Hi, I'm Kaylee. 00:36:13
I'm Sam James, an engineering technician. 00:36:15
Hi, Mr. James. 00:36:17
I really like this place. 00:36:19
There are so many models. 00:36:21
It's a pretty cool place to work. 00:36:23
All the models you see here are designed 00:36:25
by NASA researchers. 00:36:27
I was hoping you could help me understand 00:36:29
more about why models are important 00:36:31
Um, okay. 00:36:33
Well, this blended wing body, 00:36:35
where do you think we have to start to make this model? 00:36:37
A mold? 00:36:39
Good guess. 00:36:41
Come over to my desk. 00:36:43
That's where we'll begin. 00:36:45
We use a computer-aided design program, 00:36:47
CAD for short, 00:36:49
to make all of our models, like this blended wing body. 00:36:51
Engineers and designers 00:36:53
use their design specifications 00:36:55
to create a profile. 00:36:57
Then the programmers create drawings 00:36:59
to use. 00:37:01
What's that over there? 00:37:03
They are molds which are used to make models. 00:37:05
Can you show us how to make a mold? 00:37:07
Sure. 00:37:09
We use several different technologies 00:37:11
depending on the type of model we're making. 00:37:13
Again, this blended wing model. 00:37:15
One way to make this model airplane 00:37:17
is to put fiberglass or graphite skins 00:37:19
in the mold, then insert what we call 00:37:21
hard points and bulkheads for support. 00:37:23
That's really neat. 00:37:25
What kind of materials do you use? 00:37:27
We usually use aluminum, 00:37:29
balsa wood, 00:37:31
and honeycomb 00:37:33
to reduce the weight. 00:37:35
Wow, these are really light. 00:37:37
Are all the models 00:37:39
the same size? 00:37:41
Not at all. Different tests require 00:37:43
different types of models. 00:37:45
For instance, the blended wing body. 00:37:47
It's going to be made in two different scales. 00:37:49
A 1%, like the one I showed you earlier, 00:37:51
and a 14%, like that one 00:37:53
on the table over there. 00:37:55
By the way, if this 1% model 00:37:57
has a wingspan of 2 1⁄2 feet, 00:37:59
what would be the wingspan of the real airplane? 00:38:01
He doesn't know that 00:38:03
I'm a math whiz too. 00:38:05
That's easy. 00:38:07
1% equals 1 100. 00:38:09
So you just multiply 00:38:11
2.5 by 100, 00:38:13
and you get 00:38:15
250. 00:38:17
You would do great at making a model. 00:38:19
Okay guys, let's put our ideas together 00:38:21
and go from there. 00:38:23
Let's go to the problem board. 00:38:25
What do we know? 00:38:27
We know that the problem is we want to make our bikes safer at night. 00:38:29
We know that anyone can be an inventor. 00:38:31
Inventors brainstorm 00:38:33
a lot of solutions, 00:38:35
and we know how to evaluate our ideas. 00:38:37
We know that we need to build a model 00:38:39
before we build our inventions. 00:38:41
What do we need to know? 00:38:43
I think we need to know more about building our own model and testing it. 00:38:45
Okay, so where do we go from here? 00:38:47
I'm going to the Wright Brothers Monument 00:38:49
in Kennehawk, North Carolina 00:38:51
and I'm going to write tomorrow. 00:38:53
Maybe I'll learn something about how the Wright Brothers did their tests. 00:38:55
Yeah, maybe I'll see them again. 00:38:57
Good afternoon. 00:38:59
I'm I Am Listening, 00:39:01
reporting live for 00:39:03
Kids Science News Network 00:39:05
with this breaking news. 00:39:07
I'm here at the Invention Innovation Convention 00:39:09
with last year's winner, 00:39:11
Isaac N. Vention. 00:39:13
Mr. Vention, you... 00:39:15
Wow! 00:39:17
That's one volcano that's out of the running. 00:39:19
Now, Mr. Vention, 00:39:21
you won last year's competition 00:39:23
with a nuclear-powered electric toothbrush, 00:39:25
and you've got an even bigger 00:39:27
and better invention for us this year. 00:39:29
Tell me, with so many great 00:39:31
inventions in the competition this year, 00:39:33
do the Treehouse Detectives have 00:39:35
any hope of winning? 00:39:37
No, Ms. Listening, not a chance. 00:39:39
If you'll excuse me. 00:39:41
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. 00:39:43
The Treehouse Detectives 00:39:45
have a long way to go if they're going to have any hope 00:39:47
of winning the Kid Genius Award 00:39:49
from the Invention Innova... 00:39:51
Ah! 00:39:53
Slow down there, son. 00:39:59
Be careful. 00:40:01
Sorry. I guess I just got carried away when I saw you. 00:40:03
You're Wobble Wright, aren't you? 00:40:05
What are you doing here? 00:40:07
We're hoping to test our new glider, 00:40:09
if our weather conditions improve. 00:40:11
Last year was very frustrating for us. 00:40:13
It was a failure, Wobble. 00:40:15
We were using Otto Lilienthal's lift calculations, 00:40:17
which were generally considered to be accurate. 00:40:19
But after last year's frustrations, 00:40:21
we wondered if they might be wrong. 00:40:23
So we decided to do our own lift calculations. 00:40:25
How did you do that? 00:40:27
Wobble built a wind tunnel 00:40:29
and created a wonderful scale to measure 00:40:31
and calculate lift. 00:40:33
We created and tested several different types of airfoils 00:40:35
to find the one with the most lift. 00:40:37
We're really anxious to test 00:40:39
as soon as the wind conditions are favorable. 00:40:41
Why can't you test them now? 00:40:43
How can you stand waiting? 00:40:45
Waiting is difficult. 00:40:47
But if we don't conduct our tests in appropriate conditions, 00:40:49
we might invalidate our results. 00:40:51
Worse yet, we could damage our glider 00:40:53
and ourselves. 00:40:55
No, we must wait until conditions are right. 00:40:57
So what's up? 00:41:01
What type of model will the Treehouse Detectives build? 00:41:03
How will they test their model? 00:41:05
Where will Jacob see the Wright Brothers next? 00:41:07
You'll find out on the conclusion of 00:41:09
The Wright Invention. 00:41:11
The Wright Invention 00:41:15
In the conclusion of 00:41:23
The Case of the Wright Invention, 00:41:25
you'll be asked 00:41:27
What do Treehouse Detectives do 00:41:29
when their tests fail? 00:41:31
How do they redesign the model? 00:41:33
And how do inventors 00:41:35
protect their inventions? 00:41:37
The Wright Invention 00:41:45
This just isn't working. 00:42:05
What's wrong? 00:42:07
Why can't we make these things work? 00:42:09
Do you remember what Mr. Jed at the Limson Center said 00:42:11
about genius and perseverance? 00:42:13
Well, I wrote it in my journal. Here it is. 00:42:15
Thomas Edison said 00:42:17
that genius is only 1% inspiration 00:42:19
and 99% perspiration. 00:42:21
And that Benjamin Franklin said 00:42:23
that he never failed, 00:42:25
he just found 10,000 ways it didn't work. 00:42:27
And Thomas Jefferson said 00:42:29
the harder he worked, the more luck he found. 00:42:31
I guess just because things aren't working for us right now, 00:42:33
it's no reason to quit. 00:42:35
Remember what Mr. Wisak said 00:42:37
about taking time to analyze our data from testing 00:42:39
and using what we learn 00:42:41
to make our model better? 00:42:43
Jacob's right. Design, build, test, analyze, 00:42:45
and redesign over and over and over again 00:42:47
until we get it right. 00:42:49
Remember, it took the Wright Brothers 4 years of hard work 00:42:51
to get their airplane to fly 00:42:53
and 2 more years to get it to fly 00:42:55
the way they want it to. 00:42:57
I have an idea. NASA's testing 00:42:59
a high-altitude plane called Helios in Hawaii. 00:43:01
Let's email them and see if we can 00:43:03
set up a video conference 00:43:05
to see how they do their test. 00:43:07
Hi, I'm John Del Frate. 00:43:09
You guys are the Treehouse Detectives. 00:43:11
That's us. 00:43:13
Thanks for talking with us. 00:43:15
What can I help you with today? 00:43:17
We're having a hard time with testing. 00:43:19
We heard you just finished testing the Helios plane. 00:43:21
Could you give us some advice on testing? 00:43:23
Sure, I'd be happy to. 00:43:25
What exactly is the Helios? 00:43:27
Well, Helios is a 00:43:29
solar-powered flying wing aircraft. 00:43:31
It's flown remotely from the ground 00:43:33
and some people have described it as a flying yardstick. 00:43:35
It's not designed to carry people, 00:43:37
so you can shape it much differently. 00:43:39
It has one of the biggest wings ever built. 00:43:41
If you can believe it, 00:43:43
its wingspan is bigger than a 747's. 00:43:45
Yet it's extremely lightweight. 00:43:47
It weighs less than most cars. 00:43:49
Why was it built? 00:43:51
NASA had two reasons. 00:43:53
The first was that we needed a special airplane 00:43:55
to collect information 00:43:57
about our atmosphere up to 100,000 feet. 00:43:59
That's three times higher 00:44:01
than a regular passenger airplane flies. 00:44:03
Recently, 00:44:05
Helios set a new world record 00:44:07
by flying to 96,863 feet. 00:44:09
The second reason 00:44:11
was that we wanted to design an airplane 00:44:13
to fly longer than any airplane 00:44:15
has ever flown. 00:44:17
Why do you need to test your vision? 00:44:19
Could you tell us how you tested the Helios plane? 00:44:21
Testing is really important for us 00:44:23
for a couple different reasons. 00:44:25
The first is that we want to make sure 00:44:27
we actually understand how our airplane 00:44:29
and its parts work. 00:44:31
We design a test 00:44:33
and use the best information to predict the outcome of it. 00:44:35
Then we compare the results 00:44:37
with our predictions 00:44:39
and figure out why they might be different. 00:44:41
There's another reason why we test so much. 00:44:43
It's because building airplanes is very expensive. 00:44:45
We've been testing different parts 00:44:47
of Helios since 1996. 00:44:49
That's a long time. 00:44:51
How could it take that long? 00:44:53
In the beginning, 00:44:55
we start out with simple models like this one 00:44:57
to test the aerodynamic design. 00:44:59
And then we made bigger and more complicated models 00:45:01
until we were ready to actually 00:45:03
make the real airplane. 00:45:05
On some of our parts, like the propellers for example, 00:45:07
we had to change the design 00:45:09
and start all over. 00:45:11
It's a long process. 00:45:13
We aren't the only ones who've taken time to test. 00:45:15
The Wright Brothers tested patiently 00:45:17
for several years before they succeeded 00:45:19
way back in 1903. 00:45:21
Careful testing leads to success. 00:45:23
By the way, you know the place where the Wright Brothers 00:45:25
completed their first flight? 00:45:27
It's called the International Monument, 00:45:29
and it's a wonderful place to visit. 00:45:31
Great idea. We should go there. 00:45:33
Do you have any other advice for us and our invention? 00:45:35
Actually, I do. 00:45:37
Before you begin the test, 00:45:39
you need to think about what could possibly go wrong 00:45:41
and be prepared to handle it. 00:45:43
Thank you, and good luck with Helios. 00:45:45
Can you imagine going up 00:45:47
100,000 feet in an airplane? 00:45:49
No thanks. 00:45:51
Well, maybe we're on the right track. 00:45:53
We just need to rethink what we're trying to do. 00:45:55
You know, 00:45:57
this tire looks really skinny when you look at it this way. 00:45:59
It won't matter how reflective the paint is. 00:46:01
No one will be able to see it at night. 00:46:03
You're right. It's easier to see a bike 00:46:05
from the side than from the front and back. 00:46:07
Maybe we should stop trying to make 00:46:09
the bike more visible and start concentrating 00:46:11
on the rider. 00:46:13
That sounds good, but what if we did both? 00:46:15
What if we used the best reflective coating 00:46:17
and put it on the bike, 00:46:19
then used the best reflective material 00:46:21
and put it on the vest? 00:46:23
Then you'd be more visible. 00:46:25
But only if the car's headlights 00:46:27
hit the reflective material. 00:46:29
What if we put a blinking light on top of the helmet? 00:46:31
Then you'd be visible even at dusk. 00:46:33
I don't know if I want to wear something like that, 00:46:35
but I guess I would 00:46:37
if it makes me safer at night. 00:46:39
Dr. D, we did it! 00:46:51
Our invention works great. 00:46:53
Congratulations. Looks like you brought it with you. 00:46:55
You bet. Look at this. 00:46:57
Check out this vest. 00:46:59
And the helmet has a spotlight and a blinker. 00:47:01
Wow. 00:47:03
I'm really impressed. It's unique. 00:47:05
Looks like you really made the invention process work for you. 00:47:07
We really struggled to get started. 00:47:09
We didn't have any ideas 00:47:11
until you helped us with our 00:47:13
bug list or need list. 00:47:15
Once we decided to find a way to make a bike 00:47:17
more visible at night, we came up with a lot 00:47:19
of possible solutions. 00:47:21
We tried hard not to be critical, 00:47:23
but that was hard to do. 00:47:25
Jacob and I had some pretty silly ideas. 00:47:27
Hey, remember, no idea is a bad idea. 00:47:29
Okay, then we learned from Dr. Faith 00:47:31
that we had to come up with criteria 00:47:33
to evaluate our solutions. 00:47:35
Yes, like it should be cheap 00:47:37
and something that we can do ourselves. 00:47:39
That helped us to narrow it down to two things. 00:47:41
Keep going. Looks like you've been following 00:47:43
the invention process very carefully. 00:47:45
Then we built models of both of our ideas 00:47:47
and tested them, but nothing was really working. 00:47:49
We had this really great idea 00:47:51
that if we combined both of our ideas, 00:47:53
we'd come up with this really terrific invention. 00:47:55
So then we built a prototype 00:47:57
or full-size model 00:47:59
and tested it with our parents. 00:48:01
I knew you guys could do it. 00:48:03
What are you going to call it? It does need a name. 00:48:05
I never thought of that. 00:48:07
How about Bike Brite? 00:48:09
Or the Knife Buster? 00:48:11
Those are both great names. 00:48:13
Oh, I almost forgot. Did you bring a smoke machine? 00:48:15
I did. Can we try it out? 00:48:17
Here's my prototype. 00:48:19
I'm excited to try it. Let's fill it with smoke 00:48:21
and see what happens. 00:48:23
That's really cool. 00:48:29
Thanks for all your help. 00:48:33
I couldn't have done it without you. 00:48:35
For once, we had a chance 00:48:37
to help you, Dr. D. 00:48:39
Hope you've been keeping your eye log 00:48:41
and writing down all of your ideas in your work. 00:48:43
Of course. 00:48:45
Why would you ask us a question like that? 00:48:47
Well, good, because that will help you prepare 00:48:49
for the last and final step of the invention process. 00:48:51
What's that? 00:48:53
Protect your invention. 00:48:55
How would an inventor's log help us to keep it from getting broken? 00:48:57
I don't mean that kind of protection. 00:48:59
I mean to keep someone from stealing your idea. 00:49:01
Wow. 00:49:03
We never thought of that. 00:49:05
For example, Daniel Drawbar 00:49:07
said that he'd invented the telephone. 00:49:09
He didn't have a single paper or record to prove it. 00:49:11
I thought Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. 00:49:13
But the Supreme Court decided 00:49:15
they rejected Drawbar's claims 00:49:17
because he had no journal or record. 00:49:19
Alexander Graham Bell had excellent records 00:49:21
and was therefore awarded the patent for the telephone. 00:49:23
We don't want that to happen to us. 00:49:25
I think we need to learn something about patents 00:49:27
and how to protect our invention. 00:49:29
The U.S. Patent Office 00:49:31
is a great source of information. 00:49:33
Wow. There's a lot of information 00:49:35
on this Patent Office website. 00:49:37
I think we need to talk to someone about this. 00:49:39
Well, let's get up and go to the Patent Office. 00:49:41
Bye, Dr. D. 00:49:43
Bye. 00:49:45
Hi, I'm Ms. Nyeblood. 00:49:47
Welcome to the Patent and Trademark Museum. 00:49:49
Hi, I'm Bianca. 00:49:51
We finished our invention and we'd like to learn more about patents. 00:49:53
Well, you've come to the right place. 00:49:55
The United States Patent and Trademark Office 00:49:57
has been protecting the rights of inventors 00:49:59
for over 200 years. 00:50:01
Well, what is a patent? 00:50:03
Well, a patent is a property right granted by the U.S. government 00:50:05
that gives an inventor the right to exclude 00:50:07
all others from making, using, or selling 00:50:09
the invention for up to 20 years 00:50:11
without the inventor's permission. 00:50:13
How can we recognize a patent when we see one? 00:50:15
Do you like ice cream? 00:50:17
Have you ever noticed patent numbers 00:50:19
on some of the products that you use every day? 00:50:21
Like these right here on this ice cream freezer. 00:50:23
And this is what the patent looks like. 00:50:25
But how do we know 00:50:27
the difference between a trademark and a patent? 00:50:29
This is Walt Disney's original 00:50:31
trademark application for Mickey Mouse. 00:50:33
We sometimes like to call it 00:50:35
Mickey's birth certificate. 00:50:37
Trademarks protect words, names, 00:50:39
symbols, sounds, smells, 00:50:41
or colors that distinguish the products 00:50:43
or services of one company 00:50:45
from those of another. 00:50:47
Like Ben & Jerry's or Breyer's? 00:50:49
You got it. The Coke bottle is a registered trademark, too. 00:50:51
Can books be patented? 00:50:53
No, but they can be copyrighted. 00:50:55
Authors and artists can register 00:50:57
their copyrights with the Library of Congress. 00:50:59
Thanks, Ms. Nyblood. 00:51:01
I never knew there was so much involved with inventing. 00:51:03
It's really hard work, 00:51:05
and it can be very expensive. 00:51:07
But just like other kinds of property, 00:51:09
intellectual property, 00:51:11
your patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets 00:51:13
need to be protected. 00:51:15
This has been helpful. Thanks a lot. 00:51:17
Bye. 00:51:19
Bye, and good luck. 00:51:21
You guys, our inventions are so cool. 00:51:25
But I hope everyone else likes them. 00:51:27
Did you know that the Wright brothers 00:51:29
received their patent for their flying machine 00:51:31
many, many years after their invention? 00:51:33
I don't want that to happen to us. 00:51:35
That's why patents are so important. 00:51:37
You know, we haven't even named it yet. 00:51:39
What should we call it? 00:51:41
How about Vizigier? 00:51:43
Nah. 00:51:45
Hey, guys. 00:51:47
We did a good job, didn't we? 00:51:49
We sure did. 00:51:51
And who knows? Maybe we'll even win the contest. 00:51:53
There are more inventions waiting for you 00:51:55
than that's the White Falls website. 00:51:57
You can become an inventor, too. 00:51:59
Hello, there. 00:52:01
People have dreamed of flying 00:52:03
for centuries, 00:52:05
and it finally happened 00:52:07
in 1903 when the Wright brothers 00:52:09
invented controlled flight 00:52:11
and flew 852 feet 00:52:13
in 59 seconds. 00:52:15
With the invention 00:52:17
of the jet engine, Chuck Yeager 00:52:19
flew faster than the speed of sound, 00:52:21
which is 750 miles per hour, 00:52:23
and that was in 1947. 00:52:25
Then 00:52:27
NASA invented successful rockets 00:52:29
that took John Glenn into orbit 00:52:31
around the Earth 00:52:33
in 1962 and 00:52:35
Neil Armstrong to the moon 00:52:37
in 1969. 00:52:39
Right now, NASA 00:52:41
astronauts are building the International 00:52:43
Space Station 00:52:45
220 miles above us. 00:52:47
This is going to be the first permanently 00:52:49
orbiting space hotel and 00:52:51
research facility. 00:52:53
And guess what? 00:52:55
Now NASA is building 00:52:57
airplanes that fly like birds. 00:52:59
Imagine that. Fly 00:53:01
like birds. I love it! 00:53:03
So, in the spirit 00:53:07
of good inventions, I have invented 00:53:09
my own flying machine prototype. 00:53:11
And if it works, I should be able to 00:53:13
fly in relative ease from place to place. 00:53:15
So, here we go. 00:53:17
Uh-oh. 00:53:21
Not a 00:53:27
very good idea. 00:53:29
Hey, that reminds me. 00:53:33
Let's go to the Wright Brothers Monument and see 00:53:35
the Wright Brothers' first flu. I met the 00:53:37
neatest ranger there, and maybe he can tell me 00:53:39
why I've been seeing the Wright Brothers everywhere. 00:53:41
Great idea. I'll ask my dad if he can 00:53:43
drive us. You guys go ahead. 00:53:45
I have homework. 00:53:47
Bye. 00:53:49
Hey, Ranger Collins. 00:53:51
How are you doing? I'm doing fine. 00:53:53
Jacob's told me so much about your 00:53:55
tree detectives. Yeah, 00:53:57
pleased to meet you. This is cool. 00:53:59
Would you like to see where the Wright Brothers worked? 00:54:01
Yeah, of course. 00:54:03
Hey, detectives, do you like homework? 00:54:05
Well, sure. It depends. 00:54:07
Kinda. 00:54:09
The Wright Brothers did tons of homework right here 00:54:11
in their home at Kitty Hawk. You mean they actually 00:54:13
slept in these beds? 00:54:15
Right up top. 00:54:17
In 1899, they wrote the Smithsonian 00:54:19
Institution in Washington, D.C. 00:54:21
Asking for all available information 00:54:23
on man's early attempts to solve the 00:54:25
problems of flight. I read that they 00:54:27
went through all the information and identified 00:54:29
all the problems that needed to be solved. 00:54:31
And they used the scientific method to 00:54:33
achieve powered flight. 00:54:35
That's right. 00:54:37
The Wright Brothers identified control 00:54:39
as the key problem to human flight. 00:54:41
And they stored their airplane 00:54:43
in a hangar just like this one. 00:54:45
This looks really old. I did some 00:54:47
research on them. I found out it took 00:54:49
four years of hard work, dedication, 00:54:51
and lots of disappointments before they 00:54:53
solved the problem. But the Wright Brothers 00:54:55
had a dream, and they didn't give up. 00:54:57
They're like us. We don't 00:54:59
give up either. It was right here that the 00:55:01
Wright Brothers developed the airplane control 00:55:03
system in the year of 1902. 00:55:05
I bet you didn't know the space shuttle 00:55:07
used that same control. 00:55:09
No way! Really? 00:55:11
It's true. It was 00:55:13
on this spot that Orvin Wilbur completed 00:55:15
the most famous flight in world history. 00:55:17
On December 17, 1903. 00:55:19
That first 00:55:21
flight covered a distance of 120 00:55:23
feet in 12 seconds. 00:55:25
From the center of the granite boulder to the 00:55:27
first marker. Do you think 00:55:29
you could run that far faster than the airplane? 00:55:31
I can try. 00:55:33
I gotta time this. 00:55:35
Alright, Bianca. On your mark, 00:55:37
get set, go! 00:55:39
I can't believe you did it in 9 seconds. 00:55:41
That's faster than the first flight. 00:55:43
Supergirl, faster than an airplane. 00:55:45
This is great. 00:55:47
Thanks, Ranger Collins. 00:55:49
We appreciate all your help. 00:55:51
Yeah, thanks. Bye. 00:55:53
Bye. 00:55:55
Bye. 00:55:57
Bye. 00:55:59
Bye. 00:56:01
Bye. 00:56:03
Bye. 00:56:05
Bye. 00:56:07
Bye. 00:56:09
Bye. 00:56:11
December 17, 1903. 00:56:13
That was quite a day. 00:56:15
Marvel, 00:56:17
I was wondering, do you think these young 00:56:19
people would like to help us fly our 1902 00:56:21
glider? Oh, I don't know. 00:56:23
What do you think? Would you like to help us? 00:56:25
Do you mean it? Is this for real? 00:56:27
Who cares? Let's go. 00:56:29
Alright, everyone. 00:56:39
When Marvel gives the signal, 00:56:41
they'll be ready to run down the ridge 00:56:43
until the glider lifts off. 00:56:45
Understand? 00:56:47
Let's go. 00:56:49
Woo! 00:56:51
Woo! 00:56:53
Woo! 00:56:55
Woo! 00:56:57
Woo! 00:56:59
Woo! 00:57:01
Woo! 00:57:03
Woo! 00:57:05
Woo! 00:57:07
Woo! 00:57:09
Woo! 00:57:11
Woo! 00:57:13
Woo! 00:57:15
Woo! 00:57:17
Woo! 00:57:19
Woo! 00:57:21
Woo! 00:57:23
Woo! 00:57:25
Isn't that great? 00:57:27
Yeah, sure is. 00:57:29
Unbelievable. Look at it go. 00:57:31
Who knows? Maybe someday we'll be famous 00:57:33
inventors, too. I think they believe 00:57:35
me now. Sometimes, you just have to 00:57:37
stick to what you believe in. 00:57:39
Okay, guys. We believe 00:57:41
Jacob. 00:57:43
I can't believe it. I actually saw 00:57:45
Wilbur and Orville Wright with my own eyes. 00:57:47
Hey, guys. KSN is on with the 00:57:49
names of the winners. Who knows? 00:57:51
Maybe we'll be added to the list of famous inventors, 00:57:53
just like Orville and Wilbur Wright. Okay, 00:57:55
they're making the announcement. Are we the 00:57:57
winners? What happened? 00:57:59
The TV turned off. Oh, well. 00:58:01
Sometimes, just like Orville and Wilbur Wright, 00:58:03
great inventors have to wait a while before 00:58:05
they get recognized. Catch you later. 00:58:07
All right, that's a wrap. That's good. 00:58:09
All right! 00:58:11
Yeah. Oh, my God. 00:58:13
I'm so glad that I didn't take the whole day. 00:58:15
Look at my chain. 00:58:17
Of course. 00:58:19
I'm gonna get a hernia. 00:58:21
All right. 00:58:23
All right, all right. 00:58:31
The NASA 00:58:33
Y-Files is made possible through 00:58:35
the generous support of Bush Gardens, 00:58:37
SeaWorld, and NASA Langley 00:58:39
Research Center's Aerospace Vehicle 00:58:41
Systems Technology Office. 00:58:43
Valoración:
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Idioma/s:
en
Niveles educativos:
▼ Mostrar / ocultar niveles
      • Nivel Intermedio
Autor/es:
NASA LaRC Office of Education
Subido por:
EducaMadrid
Licencia:
Reconocimiento - No comercial - Sin obra derivada
Visualizaciones:
353
Fecha:
28 de mayo de 2007 - 15:33
Visibilidad:
Público
Enlace Relacionado:
NASAs center for distance learning
Duración:
58′ 47″
Relación de aspecto:
4:3 Hasta 2009 fue el estándar utilizado en la televisión PAL; muchas pantallas de ordenador y televisores usan este estándar, erróneamente llamado cuadrado, cuando en la realidad es rectangular o wide.
Resolución:
480x360 píxeles
Tamaño:
351.81 MBytes

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