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NAUTIL.US | TEXT SETS 4. What concept is at work in the ion drive? (Hint: what is conserved?) 5. What other travel options work on this principle? 6. How much momentum does an electron fired from a gun have? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why not take a traditional rocket to Alpha Centauri? 2. Which of the propulsion meturds listed 1s most likely to succeed? Would any be used together? 3. Would it be worth going if it took generations? 4. How far away is the next-nearest star? ACTIVITIES 1. Research and create a brochure or ad enticing astronauts to make the trip. What would they eat? What psychological qualities would they need? If robots were sent, how would they be fixed? What kind of data could they expect to collect? 2. Propose another method of traveling to Alpha Centauri. ADDITIONAL MULTIMEDIA 1. Voyager I Leaves the Solar System (The Guardian) 1 MIN 45 SEC A quick explanation of where Voyager | is, and how scientists know its location: http://www. theguardian.com/science/video/2013/sep/13/ voyager- 1-leaves-solar-system-video 2. New Mars Rover Powered by Plutonium (Space.com) 2 MIN 30 SEC An introduction to the nuclear battery on board the Mars Curiosity Rover, and the advantages of not using solar power (as with past missions): https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=1JOPW8aAcgFt WHERE THIS FITS IN THE CURRICULUM Structure and Properties of Matter (HS-PS1-8) Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioac- tivedecay. Forces and Interactions (HS-PS2-1) Analyze data to sup- port the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration. Forces and Interactions (HS-PS2-2) Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects 1s conserved when there is no net force on the system. Engineering Design (HS-ETS1-3) Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on priori- tized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015466