Archived Problems
Sorted by Category
NASA
Juggles Four Satellites at Once![PDF] - Grade level:
8-10 Students will learn about
NASA's Magnetospheric Multi-Scale (MMS) satellite
mission, and how it will use four satellites flying in
formation to investigate the mysterious process called
Magnetic Reconnection that causes changes in Earth's
magnetic field. These changes lead to the production of
the Northern and Southern Lights and other phenomena.
From the volume formula for a tetrahedron, they will
calculate the volume of several satellite
configurations and estimate the magnetic energy and
travel times for the particles being studied by MMS.
[Skills: Formulas with two variables,
scientific notation]
A
Problem in Satellite Synchrony[PDF] - Grade level:
5-9 The THEMIS program uses five
satellites in five different orbits to study Earth's
magnetic field and its changes during a storm. This
problem asks students to use the periods of the five
satellites to figure out when all 5 satellites will be
lined-up as seen from Earth. They will do this by
finding the Greatest Common Multiple of the five orbit
periods, first for the case of 2 or 3 satellites, which
can be easily diagrammed with concentric circles, then
the case for all five satellites together.
[Skills:multiplication, Greatest Common
Multiple]
Solar
Eclipses and Satellite Power [PDF] From the ground we see total solar eclipses where
the New Moon passes directly between Earth and Sun.
Satellites use solar cells to generate electricity, but
this is only possible when the Earth is not 'eclipsing'
the sun. Students will create a scaled drawing of the
orbits of three satellites around Earth, and calculate
how long each satellite will be in the shadow of Earth.
They will be asked to figure out how to keep the
satellites operating even without sunlight to power
their solar panels.
Solar
Proton Events and Satellite Damage [DOC]
Students will examine the statistics
for Solar Proton Events since 1996 and estimate their
damage to satellite solar power systems.
Satellite
Power and Cosmic Rays [PDF] Most
satellites operate by using solar cells to generate
electricity. But after years in orbit, these solar
cells produce less electricity because of the steady
impact of cosmic rays. In this activity, students read
a graph that shows the electricity produced by a
satellite's solar panels, and learn a valuable lesson
about how to design satellites for long-term operation
in space. Basic math ideas: Area calculation, unit
conversions, extrapolation and interpolation of graph
trends.
Satellite
Failures and the Sunspot Cycle [PDF] There are over 1500 working satellites orbiting
Earth, representing an investment of 160 billion
dollars. Every year, between 10 and 30 of these
re-enter the atmosphere. In this problem, students
compare the sunspot cycle with the record of satellites
re-entering the atmosphere and determine if there is a
correlation. They also investigate how pervasive
satellite technology has become in their daily
lives.
Solar
Power and Satellite Design [PDF] Students perform simple surface area calculations
to determine how much solar power a satellite can
generate, compared to the satellite's needs.
Satellite Surface Area [PDF] Students calculate the surface area of an
octagonal cylinder and calculate the power it would
yield from solar cells covering its surface.
The
Space Station Orbit Decay and Space Weather [PDF]
Students will learn about the
continued decay of the orbit of the International Space
Station by studying a graph of the Station's altitude
versus time. They will calculate the orbit decay rates,
and investigate why this might be happening.
Hinode
Satellite Power [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11
Students will study the design of the
Hinode solar satellite and calculate how much power it
can generate from its solar panels.
[Skills:area of rectangle,area of cylinder, unit
conversion]
Systems
of Equations in Space Science [PDF] - Grade level:
9-11 This problem has students
solve two problems involving three equations in three
unknowns to learn about solar flares, and communication
satellite operating power.
[Skills: decimals, solving systems of equations,
matrix math, algebraic substitution]
Solar
Energy in Space [PDF] Grade level: 7-10
Students will calculate the area of a
satellite's surface being used for solar cells from an
actual photo of the IMAGE satellite. They will
calculate the electrical power provided by this one
panel. Students will have to calculate the area of an
irregular region using nested
rectangles.
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