In this activity children will learn about friction and consider how vehicles move on different surfaces.
Description
NASA the US space agency has failed to free the Spirit rover from its Martian sand trap. The vehicle became stuck in soft soil in May 2008. The situation was made worse when two of the six wheels failed and without the additional traction it seemed unlikely that the rover would escape.
Children will learn about friction and consider how vehicles move on different surfaces They will use their scientific knowledge to suggest how the rover might be moved.
Learning Objective:
- to describe methods of increasing friction
- to describe situations in which frictional forces are helpful as well as those in which frictional forces resist motion
Children will learn:
- to carry out a fair test
- to explain their results orally or in writing
These resources were initially developed in partnership with the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University.