A Roundabout Way to Mars
Students explore orbit transfers and, specifically, Hohmann transfers. They investigate the orbits of Earth and Mars by using cardboard and string. Students learn about the planets' orbits around the sun, and about a transfer orbit from one planet to the other. After the activity, students will know exactly what is meant by a delta-v maneuver!
Our solar systemCopyright https://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2818891443
Aerospace engineers must be creative when planning the best routes and methods to send a spacecraft from Earth to another planet since space travel is never a direct linear path, but involves transfers between circular orbits. Engineers apply their understanding of math, especially geometry, to determine the most efficient interplanetary trajectories, and thus minimize costs by reducing the need for supplies and fuel as much as possible. They design techniques that take advantage of gravity and the behavior of forces in space.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the geometry of circles and ellipses.
- Use scaling factors.
- Describe space travel and Hohmann transfers.
- Explain the relationship between space travel technology and other fields of study (i.e. mathematics).
- Explain how orbits exist.