Michelle+S

The Search for Life on Mars
= Big Bang = The big bang began about 15 billion years ago. It was hot and packed into a small space. As it inflated from an atom nucleus, matter was created. The first substance was quarks and antiquarks. The temperature fell 10 billion degrees after the explosion. Later quarks and antiquarks developed into protons and neutrons which led to electrons, and then made a helium nucleus. 300,000 years later the electrons began orbiting the nucleus, which created a full helium atom. The galaxy we know today was formed when the big bang was 3 billion years old. = Solar System = The sun was formed when gravity pulled particles together. Particles formed to create planetesimals, which are made up of rock and metal. These planetesimals collided into each other to either create larger planetesimals, or sometimes into smaller planetesimals. These planetesimals turned into 4 masses, which are known as the larger planets, Jupiter Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets are seperated from the terrestrial planets by an asteroid belt between mars and Jupiter. All of which made orbiting discs. Moons condensed soon after. 4 terrestrial planets formed, which are known as Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. These planets have inner cores that generate heat inside. = Stars = Stars form in cold dark clouds of dust floating in space. A blast wave from an exploding star causes clumps of dust to form. This will be the core of the star. The core then contracts, rotates and accelerates to heat the center. This is now known as a protostar. When the temperature get hot enough, then nuclear reactions start. The protostar soon flattens into a disc shape, while gas streams out and clears away the cloud of dust. The hydrogen gas it now consists of turns into helium, which has nuclear energy. = The Sun = The sun is a very large star. It is made up of 76% hydrogen, and 24% helium. The core of the sun is 15 million degrees Celsius. This core is 20 times denser than iron. When ions crash within the sin, radiation occurs, flying outward. Hot gas rises, and as it cools, it returns back down. Granulation then occurs. This is also known as solar flares that blast atomic particles to the earth by solar wind. The sun turns 360 around once a month. While spinning this big star creates magnetic fields that are wound up by the spinning action. When it is wound up as tight as it can get which is about 11 years in all, the magnetic field disappears for a repeated process to begin again. Scientists are able to determine which stage of the cycle it is in due to sun spots, which are cooler parts of the sun. They can tell what stage it is in by determining where the sun spots appear. = Milky Way = The milky way is made up of an opaque dust, that form clouds. The outer view of the galaxy you can see disks of stars, where the sun lies. On the other side of the Milky Way you can see a dwarf galaxy, which is made up of hydrogen gas and is red and orange. Within the galaxies there is a force holding it all together that is still unknown.

Search for Life on Mars (SLM) – Wiki Entry 2

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In the Hubble Deep Field Academy astronomers asked a number of questions about the size of starts, distance and age. Here are a few for example "How can the objects be classified and identified?" and "What do these objects teach us about how and when galaxies were formed?" ======

In the Deep Field image, objects were classified into different categories. Stars Spiral and Irregular are just a few of them.
Astronomers can estimate distances in space due to the amount of light the object emits. This is because there is a delay in time of the light traveling to earth, or anywhere in space. Size is not used because it could be easily larger than the other objects, or just smaller due to the formation, not the distance. The color of the galaxy indicates the age of the stars it contains, and the shape of the galaxy indicates the formation of the galaxy. Each galaxy is different so color and shapes can variety. Astronomers use a method to estimate the number of galaxies in the universe. First they star with a picture taken from space from the Hubble probe. The astronomers then break the picture down into sections (we broke the picture down into twelfths). Then the astronomers count the number of objects in the picture. Then multiply it to get the accurate number in the universe.

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My questions were very different. I asked questions about the appearance of the stars while the astronomers asked questions about the actual size, date, time, and age. My estimate was way off from the astronomers! I guess 250 total and they guessed 3,000. I think I only looked at the large stars. There are many little stars that you have to look closely to see. The astronomers have more knowledge on the various appearance and color. They know the difference in shapes better than I do as well. In the astronomers chart 2 groups contained at least 5 objects. The group I chose are both the same color and shape. They are also the same size. I knew what the spiral galaxies were because we drew them in class. I thought the circles were stars that were similar size to the sun. Actually they were elliptical galaxies that have no young stars. I arranged the object from smallest to largest because they would be able to see them easily. They cannot use size to estimate. They have to use the light. They both have to do with most to least arrangement. Mine was exactly how you can't estimate the distance on. C, D, A, F, E, B. I chose this order because it is from nearest to farthest. IF you go this way you will visit the stars sooner and they all lead to each other in a reasonable order this way. ======

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A galaxy is made up of billions of stars. Stars are what make up galaxies. The shape of the galaxy indicates the evolution of the galaxy. The size of the galaxy alone isn't useful in determining the distance from earth because it could be very big and appear big, which is just the size, not the distance. The same galaxy can appear to have different shapes to different observers because of the angle you look at it and the eyes could see things differently. It ois better to observe in the sky than on earth because there are clouds and trees that get in the way. Also our atmosphere is a problem to the telescopes. ======

The History of Rocketry

The first device to lead to the lead to the hypothesis of rocketry was called an aeolipile. In 1000 B.C, Greek inventor Hero of Alexandria used stream to propel the instrument. Fire below the water made the water evaporate, and traveled through pipes to the circular structure. On both sides of the ball, there are two L shaped tubes, which allowed the gas to exit, and give it a thrusting motion. After this invention, rocketry began to appear all over the world. Chinese soldiers played around with gun powder, which led to gun powder filled tubes being attached to bamboo arrows for war. This wasn't used to wound anyone, but more of a distraction. After the battle of Kai-Keng whcich was when the rockets first appeared to other people, rocket expirements were being constructed all across Europe. The first idea of rockets being used to explore space was made by Konstatin Tsiolkovsky, a Russian school teacher. Soon after this idea, he documented it in a publishing in 1903. He suggested the use of liquids to propel the rockets for greater range. After his theory was proven to work, he was then named the Father of modern astronautics. Robert Goddard conducted many experiments in rocketry. These experiments consisted of solid fuels, and soon lead to liquid fuels. This was difficult to achieve success in due to the many complicated chambers needed to make the liquids work together. On March 16, 1929, the liquid fueled rocket flew for 2 1/2 secounds and achieves the height of 12.5 meters. After the news spreaded world wide, many small rocket societies were arranged. The development of the V-2 rocket that was used to attack London in WWII was credited to the German soicety the Verein fur Raumschiffahrt. The United States followed the Soviet Union and created a satellite of its own. The Explorer 1 was launched by the army on January 31, 1958. Later in october, we officially organized a space program called NASA. Machines were being launched into orbit and astronauts landed on the moon. Rockets have now become advanced to help retrieve information about the universe we live in.

= = = Rocket Stages Scratch Project = media type="custom" key="22783032" = = = Model Rocket Labeled Parts =



=Rocket Experiment=

My rocket flew much higher than the others. It flew 91 meters. In the ignition, a puff of smoke bursted out with a loud lift off sound. Within secound the rocket flew into the air, going towards the sky very quickly. It coasted for about half the way untill it met the apogee. The rocket then tilted down towards the earth, while the parachute flew out. The parachute didn’t work during the recovery stage and a fin was broken in the landing.The purpose of this experiment was to see which rocket would fly the highest, with different masses. We all built the rockets the same way, but during the painting process that is when we changed the mass. We then launched the rockets in the field in the same spot, and measured the height with a formula. MY hypothesis was that the greater the mass, the greater the height. This was not entirely true because there were a range of masses who reached around the same height. The purpose of this experiment was to see which rocket would fly the highest, with different masses. We all built the rockets the same way, but during the painting process that is when we changed the mass. We then launched the rockets in the field in the same spot, and measured the height with a formula. MY hypothesis was that the greater the mass, the greater the height. This was not entirely true because there were a range of masses who reached around the same height. To launch our rocket the whole class headed to the middle school field. In the right corner we put the rocket launcher. Then one person got the trundle wheel and measured out 100 meters, or 100 clicks, for that was the distance we would be measuring the rocket's angle using the 2 angle guns. We then launched rockets, by attaching alligator clips to the motor part of the rocket, and caught them while they were in the recovery stage.To calculate the maximum altitude, the angle guns were used to calculate the angle. To find the height of the rocket we multiplied 110 times the tangent of the angle. Ex: 110*tanangle=91 degrees



=Robot Programming= Motors are the core to move a robot. Each motor is made to move one part of the robot, and to move in a sequence to make the robot do what the programmer wants. Wheels can move at the same time to make the robot move forward. One wheel can stop while the other one moves, causing the robot to turn and spin. The motors can also command the wheels to spin backwards, causing the robot to move in reverse. Some challenges of using motors with a robot are getting precise directions to the robot. To make it turn or go forward for example, a specific amount can be difficult.

A sensor is a part of a robot that detects energy forms and turns it into electric energy so the robot can process it. They can detect kinetic, thermal, nuclear, chemical, and electromagnetic. For example, a sound sensor takes kinetic energy (vibrations) and translate it to electric energy for the robot to handle. A robot can only read and understand electric energy. Sensors are useful for your robot to perform tasks because the robot can detect whatever comes, you do not already have to program to react to a specific event.

Mars Rover Drop My team's rover drop vehicle consisted of a plastic cup with cushioning of bubble wrap in it, connected to a balloon and a parachute made of a plastic bag. We designed it like this because the bubble wrap would protect the egg from the impact of the cup hitting the ground. We put a balloon on because it slowed down the speed of the fall, and same with the parachute. The balloon was located under the parachute which didn't work very well because the balloon blocked air from the parachute. Next time I would make the parachute directly above the cup, and the balloon on top of the parachute.

Geology on Mars

Geologists identify minerals in many ways. By luster, color, shape, texture, hardness, streak, and even reactions to other chemicals. The luster of a mineral is how it reflects light. Some minerals may look the same, but reflect the light differently. This also goes for the streak of a mineral. No matter what color the mineral is on the outside, when you streak the rock, the streak will be the same color for that type. You can find the hardness of a type of mineral by seeing if it leaves a mark on different surfaces you know the hardness of on the Mohs Scale.

Curiosity will perform geological experiments on mars by collecting data from different rocks and minerals. It can use sensors to detect different features of the rock for humans to then use to identify. It can detect color, hardness and many of the other identifiers.

Detecting Life

In order for a thing to be classified as "alive" there are many characteristics it must have. The thing must be made of cells. Cells have many parts inside of them (organelles). Cells are organized into larger groups such as tissues, organs, organ systems and organisms. Living things need materials such as water, minerals and air. They all take what is needed from the environment to survive. All living things are homeostatic. This means that internally living things stay the same despite the exterior changes like the environment. Living things also respond to stimuli. There are 2 kinds of responses towards stimuli, positive and negative. Also they must reproduce. Living things can either reproduce sexually, or asexually. Living things must grow. All things develop from a simple to a complex form. Living things must also adapt. Evolution is a good example. Last but not least living things must respiration. They must release energy that is stored in the chemical bonds of food



Scientists can detect life on other planets by observing the habitat, and seeing if it has the materials needed for life. We know now is carbon and water and seeing if there are materials available for life to thrive off of. We can take a sample of different items from the planet and look for cells. This is important because these cells could be a part of or become part of a living thing making up tissues, and organisms. Scientists can also do experiments on the planet, seeing if objects respond to stimuli.