Level
4
Space
Hall
Space Hall Exploration
p. 1
Student Worksheet
Name of Exhibit
Look for the following space exhibits during your
visit to the Ontario Science Centre
Earth Moon Sun
What it’s about: This exhibit shows the moon orbiting around the Earth as the Earth
orbits the Sun.
What to do: Listen to the Audio and answer the questions.
1.
Count the number of times the Moon circles the Earth in a one-year period? Your
answer: _____________________
2. Watch the Earth as it spins. How long does it take the Earth to spin once in real life?
_____________________________
3.
What causes the seasons on Earth? _________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Watch the Moon. How many times does the Earth spin during the time it takes the Moon to
complete one orbit? _____________
5.
Watch closely and you will see eclipses. What happens during a solar eclipse?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. What happens during a lunar eclipse? _________________________________________
What’s Overhead
What it’s about: There are thousands of pieces of space junk orbiting the Earth. This
presents a hazard to space missions and the astronauts.
What to do: Read the information and answer the questions.
1. What is the weirdest stuff in space?___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Where did most space junk come from?__________________________________________
The Moon
What it’s about: The changing shape of the lit part of the Moon is called the phases. The
phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and Earth.
What to do: Take the Moon Quiz and test your knowledge. Answer the questions:
1. When can you see a full Moon? _____________________________________________
2. Where does the faint Moon glow come from? ___________________________________
Where to go:
Space Hall (Level 4)
Name of Exhibit
p.2
Gravity Surfer: Launch a Spacecraft to Saturn
What it’s about: What if you could throw something so hard it would end up in space? A
spacecraft can use the gravity of a planet or moon to change its path and speed. This
technique known as “gravity assist” is used to save time, money and fuel.
What to do:
1. Test your skills. See how accurately you can launch the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn.
2. What are some of the challenges you had?___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Rocket Chair
What it’s about: The rocket chair glides on a friction-free cushion of air. The effect is like
moving in space – once you start in a particular direction, nothing slows you down. Learn how it
feels to move in space.
What to do:
1. What happens when the chair starts to move? _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. To make the chair move forward, in what direction should the air jets blow?
__________________________________________________________________________
3.
Why is it important for an astronaut to be attached to a spacecraft?
4. How could astronauts move in space?__________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Moon, Mars and Meteorites
What it’s about: Inside the display cases are real rocks from the Moon, Mars and other parts
of the Solar System.
What to do:
1. Find and observe the Moon rock.
2. Find and observe the Mars rock.
3.
Touch a real Meteorite.
4. Take the quiz: ‘Meteorite or Meteorwrong?’
5. Name one feature you observed about space rocks:______________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Where to go:
Space Hall (Level 4)
Name of Exhibit
pg. 3
Black Holes
What it’s about: A black hole can be compared to a steep funnel. This exhibit simulates
how an object would fall into a black hole. This exhibit also shows more simple ideas – such
as the closer something gets to the centre, the faster it goes. This relates to the solar system
model, where the inner planets have faster orbits around the Sun than the outer planets
What to do: Press a button to release up to 5 metal balls at a time into the funnel. Watch the
metal balls roll into the funnel.
1.
When do the balls travel slower? _________________________________________
2.
When do the balls travel faster?__________________________________________
3.
Is the cycle of each ball exactly the same each time? _________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4.
What eventually happens to the balls? ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Solar System Model
Solar System Orray
What it’s about: This exhibit shows the planets in orbit around the Sun. Each
planet follows its own cycle, some shorter, some longer. One cycle (also known as
revolution) of Earth around the Sun is about 365 days, or one year.
What to do:
1. How many different cycles can you count in this exhibit? ______________________
2. Where are the cycles shorter? ___________________________________________
3. Where are the cycles longer? ____________________________________________
4. The big thing in the centre of the model is the Sun. Where is our planet Earth?
___________________________________________________________________
5. How does Earth’s cycle compare to some of the other planet cycles? ____________
___________________________________________________________________
6. How many things can you think of that happen in one Earth cycle around the Sun?
________________________________________________________________________________________
The Spark Chamber
What it’s about: The spark chamber allows us to see the paths of cosmic rays coming from
space. The paths are visible as small bolts of “lightning” moving from top to bottom. Cosmic
ray paths are also visible in the cloud chamber. In space, cosmic rays can be dangerous. But
the cosmic rays that reach Earth’s surface, which is protected by its atmosphere and
magnetic field, are harmless.
What to do:
1. Cosmic rays are very small. How many would you have to line up to equal the width of
a human hair?
2. Cosmic rays are like tiny bullets moving nearly as fast as light. Why do you think we
cannot feel them when they hit our bodies?
3. Watch the spark chamber for 10 seconds. Count how many cosmic rays paths you see.
About how many would pass through the chamber in one minute? How many might
pass through your body in the same time?