Our world is in constant motion...
Earth revolves around the sun, once a year...
And rotates about its polar axis every 24 hours.
It's the force of gravity which keeps us glued to earth.
But we've learned to use forces to move ourselves and our machines from place to place.
Much of what we take for granted in our high-tech world...
TV broadcasts... international phone calls... the global economy...
...depends on satellites.
And satellites need rockets to launch them up to space and into orbit.
How can we fight the >downward< force of gravity to send a multi-ton object >up< into space?
Launching rockets, and navigating spacecraft, relies on some basic concepts first expressed in the 17th century, by an english mathematician, sir isaac newton.
...and "rocket scientists" like NASA's Wayne Lee make their living by applying Newton's math and physics.
Newton's Three Laws explain motion in the universe...
From the orbits of the planets...
To an everyday game of pool...
And enable us to travel to other worlds, like mars.
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EDUCATORS-check out national and state STANDARDS you can target through the use of this video, the hands-on ACTIVITIES suggested to accompany it, and the RESOURCES to expand upon it. Also, check out VIDEO for background materials, already available, or coming soon.
STUDENTS-use RESOURCES to learn more, and check back soon for interactive learning games and materials.
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