The activities below explore the bursts of energy that are important and helpful in the world of air and space.
We'll answer the following questions:
Explosions are just combustion reactions that happens really fast and release a ton of energy. A controlled burst of energy from an explosion is how we power things from cars to rockets.
How does this work? Check out three different types of engines here and how combustion is used:
Rockets use combustion almost just like planes! They use combustion inside of their engines to propel exhaust backward and themselves forward. But, instead of sucking a bunch of air into the engines to combust, they bring everything they need for combustion with them. This is because rockets sometimes go to space, and there is almost no air in space!
Watch this video to see the launch of NASA's Artemis I Space Launch System on November 16, 2022. This rocket used its powerful engines to carry a Orion capsule to the Moon and back as a test to see if it would work.
Best for ages 9 and up, with help from a grown up | Activity will take around 15 to 30 minutes
How can we generate more thrust, like the combustion in an engine? Let's create a chemical reaction!
To keep our chemical reaction safe today, we'll be combining vinegar and baking soda, producing carbon dioxide to propel a balloon.
A diagram image of two red balloons, side-by-side above a large rocket engine.
The left balloon is tied shut, with arrows showing the air inside pushing equally against all sides. This balloon is labelled "equilibrium."
The right balloon has arrows pushing against each of the sides, and is untied on its right end, releasing air out. The release arrow is large and labeled "action" while the opposite direction, propelling the balloon, has a large arrow labeled "reaction." These words also have lines pointing to the same reaction happening in the rocket engine underneath.
A supernova is a star that has exploded because it has reached the end of its life.
Supernovae are some of the biggest and brightest events in the universe.
The image above is of the Crab Nebula, one of the most studied remnant of a supernova, which means it's what's left behind after the star explosion.
The supernova that created the Crab Nebula exploded over almost 1000 years ago. The event was observed and recorded by astronomers in China and Japan!
When a star explodes, it spreads star materials, like the chemical elements carbon and iron. Almost everything on Earth, including life on our planet, is made of elements from supernovas!
A supernova also provides material for new stars.
Watch this video to take a tour of the Crab Nebula and find out what is left behind after a star explosion.
Move your body to learn more about how and why supernovae happen!
This dance is going to use big, energetic movements and your imagination, so make sure you have some room to move.
Grownups, read these supernova steps out loud to your family and have them follow the instructions!
1. A star shines steady and strong for most of its life. (Gentle Twirling)
Start dancing slowly, spinning gently around the stage with their arms wide, like a happy, shining star. Make soft, flowing movements, like stretching out their arms or twirling. These movements show the star squeezing its fuel in space to make energy.
Music suggestions: First two minutes of Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46: I. Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg
2. The star grows bigger. (Expanding Movements)
As the star balloons out, the kids start to make bigger movements, stretching their arms and legs wide apart. They could do large, sweeping arm motions or jump and reach up, growing taller and wider. This represents the star running out of fuel and growing into a supergiant.
Music suggestions: Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg
3. The Pressure Builds (Quick Spins and Bounces)
Now, the music gets a little faster! Start bouncing on their feet and spinning quickly, showing the star’s pressure building up. They could add some wobbly or quick movements to show that the star is getting ready to explode. This part is full of excitement!
Music suggestions: Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg
4. The star collapses!
After the star expands, the nuclear fusion in the center decreases so gravity takes over and the star start to collapse. Bring your arms in close and hug yourself.
Music suggestions: Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg
5. The Big Burst (Big Jumps and Arm Flashes)
Boom! Use your best fast, energetic jumps, twirls, and arm bursts! You can run fast in place, spin, and clap your hands loudly, as if the star is bursting out in all directions. Imagine the star throwing out colorful "energy" as they wave their arms and leap into the air with big, joyful moves. This is the big moment when the supernova happens!
Music suggestions: First 30 seconds of Carmen: Prelude by Georges Bizet
6. The Shockwave (Flowing, Wave-like Movements)
After the explosion, slow down to show the shockwave traveling outward. They can sway side to side with their arms flowing like waves, moving in smooth, curved patterns to represent the shockwave moving through space. These gentle movements create a calm after the big explosion.
Music suggestions: Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie
7. The Star’s Remains (Small, Spiraling Movements)
To show the star collapsing, slowly curl into a tight ball and spin slowly on the ground, bringing your bodies inward like a shrinking core. You can pretend to be a small, tight ball, or move your hands in circles, mimicking the way the core of the star might turn into a black hole or neutron star.
Music suggestions: Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie
8. The Aftermath (Dancing Particles and Stardust)
End the dance by gently moving around the dance floor like floating particles, moving in slow, happy patterns. They could twirl and float, pretending to be bits of stardust that spread out and form new stars or planets. The music would be calm and peaceful, signaling the start of a new cycle in space.
Music suggestions: Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie
By Chiara Colombi
Illustrated by Scott Magoon
Best for ages 4 - 8
Follow Rocket as she embarks on her first solo launch! Follow her from the launch pad to lift off and out into space. Finally, help Rocket overcome her fears and reenter Earth's atmosphere at super speeds!
By Suzanne Slade
Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
Best for ages 7 - 8
The inspirational story of Mary Sherman, the world's first female rocket scientist, who overcame gender barriers and many failures to succeed.
By Lane Polak
Illustrated by Heather Legge-Click
Best for ages 3 - 8
Hooray! NASA is working to send humans back to the Moon to live, learn, and explore through the Artemis campaign. As a member of the Artemis Generation, NASA invites you to be a part of the story!
By Teresa Robeson
Illustrated by Diana Renzina
Best for ages 7 - 9
This non-fiction book is about nebulae, or space clouds, that are left behind after a massive supernova explosion.
Spotlight Story
Learn more about an early rocket scientist who helped propel us into space!
The H-1 rocket engine was an important part of the Saturn 1 and Saturn 1B rockets. These rockets were used in the early days of space travel to help get ready for the Apollo missions, which sent astronauts to the Moon. Each Saturn 1 and Saturn 1B rocket had eight H-1 engines that helped launch them into space!
A company called Rocketdyne made the H-1 engine for NASA. It was really powerful because it burned a special fuel called RP-1, which is like kerosene, along with liquid oxygen. This engine created 188,000 pounds of thrust, which is a lot of power to send rockets into space.
The H-1 engine was used in missions like Apollo 7 in 1968 and the Skylab space station missions in the 1970s.
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was the world’s fastest jet-powered aircraft. It was built to fly high and fast, making it one of the most amazing planes in history. The Blackbird was used by the U.S. Air Force for reconnaissance, which means it was designed to gather information without being detected by enemies. It could fly so fast and high that no other plane could catch it!
The SR-71 flew more than 2,800 hours over 24 years of service. On its final flight in 1990, two pilots, Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding and Lt. Col. Joseph Vida, set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., in just 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds! They were flying at an average speed of over 2,100 miles per hour, faster than the speed of sound!
This incredible aircraft was designed by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Its body was made mostly of titanium to handle the heat from flying so fast. The Blackbird’s powerful engines and special shape helped it fly higher and faster than anything else at the time.
Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
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