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.
Count the number of times the Moon circles the Earth in a one-year period? Your
answer: (13 times --The Moon makes a complete orbit of the Earth every 28 days)
2. Watch the Earth as it spins. How long does it take the Earth to spin once in real life?
(24 hours)
3. What causes the seasons on Earth? (The Earth’s tilt on its axis causes unequal heating on
various parts of the Earth’s surface.)
4. Watch the Moon. How many times does the Earth spin during the time it takes the Moon
to complete one orbit? (Approximately 28 times)
5. Watch closely and you will see eclipses. What happens during a solar eclipse?
(The Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun casting a shadow on the Earth.)
1.
6.
What happens during a lunar eclipse? (The Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow)
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? (Wrench, toothbrush, a camera, a glove,
shaving cream, spatula)
2. Where did most space junk come from? ? (old satellites)
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? (When the Moon is furthest from the Sun.)
2.
Where does the faint Moon glow come from? (This is called Earthshine, a soft, faint glow
on the dark side of the Moon caused when sunlight is reflected off the surface of the
Earth.)
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?
•
•
•
(Launching too early or too late
Predicting where the spacecraft will be at launch
Both objects are travelling at different speeds)
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? (The chair keeps moving until it hits a barrier.)
2. To make the chair move forward, in what direction should the air jets blow? (The air jets
should be pointed backwards of the chair)
3.
Why is it important for an astronaut to be attached to a spacecraft? (If the astronaut starts
to move, he or she could travel beyond the reach of the spacecraft.)
4. How could astronauts move in space? (They could use portable jet packs. Shooting gas in a
particular direction makes the astronaut move in the opposite direction.)
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:
• (blackened outer crust known as fusion crust
• shallow finger depressions
• some shiny or metallic spots could be stony)
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.
Solar System Model
1.
Watch the metal balls roll into the funnel. When do the balls travel slower? (When
the balls are furthest from the funnel they move slower,)
2.
When do the balls travel faster? (As the balls get closer to the funnel they move faster.)
3.
Is the cycle of each ball exactly the same each time? (No the path it takes gets
smaller with each rotation.)
4.
What eventually happens to the balls? (Due to friction the balls eventually fall into the hole
of the funnel.)
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? (Each planet has its own cycle)
2. Where are the cycles shorter? (The planets nearer the middle have faster cycles)
3. Where are the cycles longer? (The planets farther out have longer cycles.)
4. The big thing in the centre of the model is the Sun. Where is our planet Earth? (The 3rd
planet out.)
5. How does Earth’s cycle compare to some of the other planet cycles? (e.g. in the middle
– not as fast as the 2 inner planets, not as slow as the outer planets.)
6. How many things can you think of that happen in one Earth cycle around the Sun?
(e.g. My birthday, Hallowe’en and other holidays, 12 months, 365 days, spring, summer, fall,
winter, etc.)
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? (At least five billon.)
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? (They are too small. They pass through the
spaces between our atoms.)
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?