Lunar Lander and Forces
Go to the following website: http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/index.php?cat=Motion. Once here, select the applet entitled Lunar
Lander. Run the applet a couple of times
to get familiar with it.
After you have utilized the applet, answer the
following questions using complete sentences.
1.
If you do nothing
with the lander after the applet is started (you
don’t turn any thrust on), describe what happens:
2.
What forces act on
the lander as the lander
falls IF YOU DO NOTHING. Draw a picture
and use arrows to show all forces acting on the lander
as it falls.
3.
Using complete
sentences, describe what you must do to land safely.
4.
Now, rephrase
your answer to #3 except this time discuss your answer in terms of the overall
force on the lander and the lander’s
acceleration. Use “overall force” and
“acceleration” in a meaningful way within your response.
5.
Can you make the lander accelerate away from the moon? If so, what must you do?
6.
Draw a picture
showing the lander when it accelerates AWAY from the
moon’s surface. Indicate which of your forces
is bigger, and explain how you know it is bigger.
7.
Suppose you
control the lander so that it drops to the surface of
the moon at a constant velocity. Draw a
picture of the forces acting on the lander. Explain which of your forces is largest and
why.
8.
Now the big
one. How would you use this applet to
show a first grader (a 6-year-old) what force is and what each of
a.
Give one example
of
b.
Give one example
of
c.
Give one example
of