Lesson 11. Spaceship Programming (OLD VERSION, DON'T USE)

Stephen Dickman, Jacob Kelter
Physics
1 period 50
AP Physics 1
v2

Overview

During this lesson, you will driving a spaceship, in space, and attempting to dock it safely. The rocket engines fire an impulse in order to accelerate. How do they achieve this acceleration?

Standards

Computational Thinking in STEM 2.0
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • [CT-MODEL-1] Using computational models to understand a complex phenomenon
    • [CT-MODEL-2] Using computational models to hypothesize and test predictions
    • [CT-MODEL-3] Using a computational tool to understand a system's compenents and dynamics
Next Generation Science Standards
  • Physical Science
    • [HS-PS2-1] Analyze data to support 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.
    • [MS-PS4-2] Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Credits

CT-STEM, Northwestern University.

Acknowledgement

This lesson was coded by Jacob Kelter.

Activities

  • 1. Programming
  • 2. Maze Travel!
  • 3. Challenge Problems

Student Directions and Resources


In this lesson you will program a spaceship to reach its destination by scheduling when to turn its four engines on and off. 

1. Programming



Question 1.1

Attempt to dock the rocket to the green patch(Space Station). To do it safely, the spaceship must be stopped at the station. Once you have figured out a code, take a screenshot and upload it below.

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
File Delete
Upload files to the space allocated by your teacher.


Question 1.2

After the rocket engine has been fired, what does the rocket do motion-wise? What law governs this motion?



Question 1.3

Considering a real rocket: what laws govern its motion as it forces hot gas in one direction?

Note: the rocket loses gas/mass as it does this. Would this affect the motion? How?



Question 1.4

Sketch the graph of the force of the left engine vs. time. Assume the force is constant throughout the firing. Take the firing time to be 5 seconds.

Note: Draw your sketch in the sketchpad below


Question 1.5

Write out the impulse equation for the left engine firing for a time, t. Write out the impulse equation for the right engine firing for a time, t. Remember the direction matters in the equation!



Question 1.6

Now, assume the rocket is moving at 4m/s to the right. The left engine is now fired, what is the resulting motion? If the mass is 5kg and the left engine applies a 1N force for 15 seconds, what will the final velocity be?



Question 1.7

Now, assume the rocket is moving at 4m/s to the right. The right engine is now fired, what is the resulting motion? If the mass is 5kg and the left engine applies a 1N force for 15 seconds, what will the final velocity be?



Question 1.8

Say you got the rocket to move and then come to a complete stop. What would be the sum of the impulses?



Question 1.9

How would you get the rocket to accelerate up and to the right? Draw the force vectors on the rocket, include the resultant force and velocity vectors.

Note: Draw your sketch in the sketchpad below


2. Maze Travel!


Your job now is to negotiate Maze 1 and 2. Remember, you must dock the spaceship safely. 


Question 2.1

Upload your successful code for Maze 1.

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
File Delete
Upload files to the space allocated by your teacher.


Question 2.2

Upload a screenshot of your successful code of Maze 2.

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
File Delete
Upload files to the space allocated by your teacher.


Question 2.3

How would you get to the station in the least amount of time? How would you get there in the most amount of time?



Question 2.4

Sketch the force vs time graphs for the maximum and minimum time travel.

Note: Draw your sketch in the sketchpad below


3. Challenge Problems


Here, you will explore the difference between displacement, velocity, acceleration, time, force and mass!


Question 3.1

Take the initial velocity as zero and the mass as 8 kg. If the left rocket applied 10N of force for 8 seconds, how long would it take to travel 1000m? What would the final velocity be at 1000m? What would the momentum be at 1000m?



Question 3.2

Sketch a graph of the velocity vs. time.

Note: Draw your sketch in the sketchpad below


Question 3.3

If the mass in #1, was 4 kg, what would the final velocity be after 1000m? What is the momentum at 1000m?