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 Chapter 4: Motion and Forces

Space Shuttle Speed

The space shuttle is a fast-moving machine. When it's in orbit, the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, keeps track of the shuttle's motion. The first shuttle mission in 1981 traveled more than I million km during a flight lasting more than 54 h. That's an average speed of almost 32,000 km/h. Investigate space shuttle data to find how far the shuttle has flown on each mission as well as the amount of time each mission lasted. With that data, you'll be able to calculate the average speed at which the space shuttle flies.

 
Recognize the Problem

How fast does the space shuttle fly?

 
Form a Hypothesis

What is the average speed of each mission? Which mission had the fastest average speed? Which mission had the slowest average speed? Why was there a difference in speeds among the different missions?

 

Goals

  • Identify distance and flight duration for five space shuttle missions.

  • Calculate average speed for each of the five space shuttle missions.

  • Compare average speed data for five space shuttle missions.


Data Sources
Test Your Hypothesis
Plan
  1. In order to compare average speed data for five space shuttle missions, find out the total distance traveled and the time duration for each mission.

  2. Review the time duration data. Make sure that the data represents the number of hours of the mission for each mission. You will need to convert values expressed in days, minutes, and seconds to hours in order to calculate the average speed.

  3. Find out the space shuttle's average speed for each of the missions. To do this, divide the distance (in kilometers) by the time in hours. This will give you the average speed for the mission in km/h.

Do

  1. Make sure your teacher approves your plan before you start.
Analyze Your Data
  1. For each shuttle mission you investigated, determine the average speed for that mission.

  2. Which of the missions had the fastest average speed?

  3. Which of the missions had the slowest average speed?

  4. What is the difference between the fastest average speed and the slowest average speed?
Draw Comclusions
  1. Post your data in the table provided. Study other students' data and compare them to your data. Review data that other students entered.

  2. Does the total mission time affect the average speed? Why or why not?

  3. What factors affect the average speed for each mission?

  4. Calculate the range in the average speeds by subtracting the smallest average speed from the largest average speed. What factors could make the average speeds different?

 

Post Your Data


Results
Mission 1
Launch Date
Total Distance Traveled (km)
Total Time (h)
Average Speed (km/h)
Mission 2
Launch Date
Total Distance Traveled (km)
Total Time (h)
Average Speed (km/h)
Mission 3
Launch Date
Total Distance Traveled (km)
Total Time (h)
Average Speed (km/h)
Mission 4
Launch Date
Total Distance Traveled (km)
Total Time (h)
Average Speed (km/h)
Mission 5
Launch Date
Total Distance Traveled (km)
Total Time (h)
Average Speed (km/h)
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