🚀 Instructions

Group Activity: Work in groups of 5 students. Each group will receive one scenario card to discuss for 10 minutes. Read your scenario carefully and identify which of Newton's laws apply. Be prepared to present your findings to the class!

Newton's Laws Quick Reference:

First Law (Inertia): An object at rest stays at rest, an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a net external force.

Second Law: Force = Mass × Acceleration (F = ma)

Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

🛰️ Scenario Card 1: Launching a Satellite

Scenario: A rocket is launching a communications satellite into orbit around Earth. The rocket engines fire, producing enormous thrust to overcome Earth's gravity and accelerate the satellite to orbital velocity of approximately 28,000 kilometres per hour.

👨‍🚀 Scenario Card 2: Astronaut Spacewalk

Scenario: An astronaut is performing a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. She needs to move from one part of the station to another. There is no air in space, so she cannot swim or walk. She pushes off from the station wall to propel herself towards her destination.

☄️ Scenario Card 3: Asteroid Impact

Scenario: A large asteroid is travelling through space at 50,000 kilometres per hour. It has been moving in a straight line for millions of years. Suddenly, it enters Earth's gravitational field and begins to change direction, accelerating towards our planet.

🚀 Scenario Card 4: Docking Two Spacecraft

Scenario: A supply spacecraft needs to dock with the International Space Station. The spacecraft fires small thrusters to slow down and carefully approach the station. Both vehicles have significant mass - the supply craft is 15,000 kg and the space station is 420,000 kg. The thrusters provide precise control for the delicate docking procedure.

🌍 Scenario Card 5: Satellite Orbiting Earth

Scenario: A weather satellite orbits Earth at an altitude of 800 kilometres above the surface. It travels at a constant speed of 27,000 kilometres per hour, completing one orbit every 100 minutes. The satellite maintains this circular path due to the balance between its forward motion and Earth's gravitational pull.

📝 Group Presentation Notes

Our Scenario: _________________________________

1. ___________________________ 2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________ 4. ___________________________

5. ___________________________