Grades: 9-12
These activities comprise a series of 36 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during the 2006-2007 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate science and mathematics concepts such as radiation effects on humans and technology, solar science, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher's sheets with answer keys.
Space Math III [12MB PDF file]
Individual sections:
Introductory Pages
Sample Problem, An Introduction to Space Radiation
Problem 1, Unit Conversion Exercises
Problem 2, Radiation Background and Lifestyles
Problem 3, A Perspective on Radiation Dosages
Problem 4, Having a Hot Time on Mars!
Problem 5, Calculating Total Radiation Dosages at Mars
Problem 6, Single Event Upsets in Aircraft Avionics
Problem 7, The Deadly Van Allen Belts?
Problem 8, Systems of Equations in Space Science
Problem 9, Monster Functions in Space Science
Problem 10, Parametric Functions and Substitution
Problem 11, Radon Gas in the Basement
Problem 12, Some Puzzling Thoughts about Space Radiation
Problem 13, Moving Magnetic Filaments Near Sunspots
Problem 14, Correcting Bad Data Using Parity Bits
Problem 15, Data Corruption by High-Energy Particles
Problem 16, The Pressure of a Solar Storm
Problem 17, Are U Nuts?
Problem 18, Lunar Meteorite Impact Risk
Problem 19, Beyond the Blue Horizon
Problem 20, Measuring the Speed of a Solar Tsunami
Problem 21, Do Fast CMEs Produce Intense SPEs?
Problem 22, Atmospheric Shielding from Radiation Part I
Problem 23, Atmospheric Shielding from Radiation Part II
Problem 24, Atmospheric Shielding from Radiation Part III
Problem 25, Introduction to Radiation Shielding
Problem 26, Astronomy as a Career
Problem 27, Solar Storms; Odds, Fractions and Percentages …
Problem 28, A Study of Astronaut Radiation Dosages
Problem 29, Hinode Satellite Power
Problem 30, Hinode -- A Close-up of a Sunspot
Problem 31, Compound Interest
Problem 32, Solar Flare Reconstruction
Problem 33, A Lunar Transit of the Sun from Space
Problem 34, The Hinode Satellite Views the Sun
Problem 35, The Sunspot Cycle -- Endings and Beginnings
Problem 36, Super-fast Solar Flares
Source: NASA
