MELENDEZ VALDES SPACE PROYECT (MVSP) WORKSHOP: Finding the most appropriate material to design a spacecraft.


Imagine that you are a group of several engineers and you have a great challenge. Our challeger is to desing a space ship that we will be sent into space.
In order to do so we must find the most appropiate materials.


Students have to use a variety of strategies to be able to experimentally investigate several different materials so as to find the most appropiate one.


Those and, if we want to send a ship into space we have to choose materials must withstand extreme conditions such as:


    - Materials that conduct the heat to avoid damage when the temperature increases or decreases.

    - Theres materials must be concuctors of electriciyto to withstand any spark and not damage electronic circuits.


    - These materials must be also impact resistant as they can colllide with space debris or meteorites.


    - Materials cannot be magnetic so taht their own circuitos to no interact with radiation.


    - In addition they must reflect light in order to be tracked with our telecoopes and satellites.

    - And finally our materials must be very light to save fuel when launched into space.




In the classroom there are six stations with tools where you can experiment to decide which material is the one that best meets the imposed conditions.

- Station number 1: Conductor or insulator. 

    In this station you have a multimeter where you can determine if the materials are conductos of electricity or insulators. 
    You can also determine it with a simple electrical circuit formed by a battery, a light bulb and conductors. 
    Classify materials into conductors and insulators.


- Station number 2. Impacts resistant. 

        In this station you will be able to compare which materials withstand impacts better. 
        To do this you must use the marble lancher. 
        Score impacts and ranks from highest to lowest impact resistance.



- Station number 3. Density. 

    This station is prepared so that you can calculate the density of the materials and be able to compare them. Use the balance and apply the formula for the densityç

       Density= weight/volume.

    The volume of a hollow cylinder is the length of the circumference multiplied by the heiht and multiplied by the thickness.

    The volumen of a prim is the product of the base multiplied by the height


-Station number 4. Reflection. 

    Try to compare with flashlights which material reflect light better. 
    Indicate which materials relfect light better from highest to lowest.








- Station number 5. Heat conductor. 

    We must know which materials conduct heat better. 
    With the thermometer you should compare them.



- Station number 6. Magnetic. 

    In this station you have several magnets. 
    Compare what materials are magnetic.



Once all the experimets have been done, complete a table and have a debate to choose the material that you consider the most appropriate to make the ship.

What material have you choosen? Why?




 

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