Tag Archives: RobisonSSEP1

SSEP Reflect

Define: We need to make up a experiment that we can test in micro-gravity and possibly help in the future

Microgravity is a state where there is very little gravity so it when people are up there they seem to float.

Our group wanted to come up with an experiment that was original and standing out to other groups.

Some of our brain storm ideas

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Dream: When thinking about our ideas, there was lots to come up but we thought about it more then in was impossible for the restrictions for the SSEP no flight list.  Some ideas are seeing if eggs would hatch in space the same way they hatch on earth. We turned that down because we had to fit whatever item we would have into a small tube. Another idea was to have a caterpillar in space, We would send a cocoon in the tube.

Discover: One of our ideas was to see if an iron galvanized nail corrode the same way in space. It would work with a small nail and a small amount of sulfuric acid. So we started to look into this idea more. Finally we decide this was the right choice. It took me all so sudden because the next day we were starting with the experiment.img_15681

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Design & Deliver: We started our experiment which was very exciting and to just think about the chance that our idea could be put up it space. Along the way of the experiment we took pictures almost everyday we could to see what was happening to the nail. In the first couple of days it was obvious that corrosion was happening because little specks of the nail were floating in the acid. After a week we saw a weird blue gel forming inside the beaker and around the nail. We later found out it was from the zinc and copper that galvanized the nail came off. img_16151

 

Debrief: At the end I was sad because I wanted to keep working on this project. It was a self directed project and we got to choose an experiment that we wanted to do and see if we could get our idea in space. The experiment was a fun thing to do and a great introduction to science 9 and high school.

SSEP1

Can silly putty be made in micro-gravity? Zac Olstead

1a) The experiment is basically just testing whether or not silly putty can be made in microgravity, and if so they are testing to see how different the traits are of the silly putty that was made in microgravity vs the one made on earth.

Who: 8th graders from Lincoln middle school, the middle school science teachers, Collaborators: Francis Abastillas, Dean Chien, Matilda Loughmiller, Alex Soohoo, Roman Valentine, and Jane Cho Watts, Principal investigator: Cindy Yen.

From where: Lincoln middle school, Santa Monica, California.

What: The experiment is trying to figure out, What is the effect of microgravity on the formation of silly putty and how do the characteristics differ from the silly putty made on earth?

Why: They did this experiment of making silly putty in microgravity to help the world learn more about non-Newtonian fluid.

When: it was either June 7, 2012 or between May 22-24 2012

1b) Retell the team’s background research.

The materials that the team used was sodium borate solution, which is borax mixed with tap water, and Elmer’s glue. They used type 2 FME with glue in the main FME volume and sodium borate solution in the long ampoule. After it was mixed around it became homemade silly putty. When the FME got back to earth they will test the differences and of the silly putty made in micro-gravity and the silly putty on Earth. The traits that they were testing for is molecular structure, viscosity, color, adhesiveness, dissolvability in alcohol, bounce height, and flammability. They predict that the silly putty will be made in the ISS although the viscosity and bounce height will be different. The team hopes the silly putty in micro-gravity will be useful in the knowledge of non-Newtonian fluid.

1.c) The difference between a control group and an experimental group is, one group is exposed to the conditions of the experiment and the others not.

Experimental: Where the experimental procedure is performed

Control: Where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.

2) Why this team won the opportunity to get their experiment in space.

I think the reason they won because they had a creative idea, they made silly putty on earth then made it up in space. It is also a different idea than others. I think mainly can this organism live in this habitat but can we make this. That is why I think this team won.