Weekend
Spotlight: The Wonders of Gravity
Weekends, April - June 2002
12:30 - 2:00 and 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Chemistry/Physics Lab, Spees Building
Why does it take such a big rocket to get into space? Why does the
international space station orbit? Are the astronauts really in zero
gravity? Where does gravity stop? Why do we weigh different amounts on
other planets? What helps the sun create all of its energy? How is a
black hole formed?
All these questions and more can be answered with fun,
gravity-defying demonstrations and hands-on activities, including:
 Parachutes
Make your own home-made parachute out of tissue paper, string and a film canister. Learn how air resistance can
affect the way things fall by dropping your parachute from the second floor rotunda.
See how a simple design like ours can dramatically slow the descent of the film canister (and whatever cargo it may be carrying).
Drop Box
Why do astronauts feel weightless even though there is gravity in space? The answer is because they are in free fall.
This demonstration will allow you to see for yourself why astronauts are weightless and why the space station orbits the Earth.
How Heavy Is Your Suitcase?
Take an imaginary trip around the solar system, and make sure to bring your luggage with you! First weigh your mini suitcase on Earth, and then weigh it on other planets, and see how its weight changed from planet to planet
-- even though it is really the same suitcase.
Where Did Neptune Go?
Recreate the historic discovery of Neptune (its position first calculated by its gravitational influence on the Earth), by creating a flip card of the stars, and finding the star that appears to change position. You found it!
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