In this calculating arc lengths instructional activity, students are given 4 simple functions and they use the Pythagorean Theorem and the basic techniques of calculus to find the arc-length formula in order to find the arc-length.

In this frames of reference worksheet, students solve 5 problems given the details of a journey an ant takes from the center of a CD ROM to its edge. Students draw a scaled sketch of the turntable showing the motion of the ant from...

In this ion rocket and orbits worksheet, students read about the spiral orbit the Dawn spacecraft took due to its ion rocket motor. Students solve 3 problems including finding the path taken by the spacecraft, determining the total path...

Students work with circles, angles and estimating angles in the night sky. In this circles and angles lesson, students practice measuring a degree using the circumference of a circle and apply the degree to determine a way to use their...

Students determine their latitude using a protracdtor and/or cross-staff to find the altitude of Polaris.

Junior engineers examine aspect ration in airplane wings. Using the length and width of two differetn wings, they calculate the aspect ratios and compare drag rankings. An engineering or space science class would benefit from this...

Students measure distances using parallax. In this math instructional activity, students explain how this method helped astronomers with their studies of the solar system. They determine the length of their arm using parallax and compare...

NASA's LCROSS mission is dropping a probe into a lunar crater. Groups design a system to travel down a zip line and drop a marble onto a target in the classroom. The groups then modify their designs based upon testing. 

Students calculate the length of an arc that surrounds an angle at the center of a circle of radius.  In this kinetic equations lesson students complete a lab and solve a kinematic equation.

Rumours of illness, poisoning, and madness - a ship disappears without a trace! Read this interactive science story and use deductive reasoning skills to solve a mystery. This engaging resource gives science stars a chance to practice...

Students describe in words and graphic displays the elevation or depression profile of sections of Mars' Olympus Mons and/or Valles Marineris. They explain how orbiting spacecraft build up global maps one data slice at a time.

Students explore rocketry and demonstrate how rocket liftoff is an application of Newton's Laws of Motion. They construct a rocket powered by the pressure generated from an effervescing antacid tablet reacting with water.

Learners demonstrate direction of velocity of an object in circular motion. They discuss the mathematical formula, and demonstrate the formula using a string, rubber stopper and a target.

Students determine the amount of air they use during rest and activity. They conduct experiments to calculate the number of breaths needed to empty a jug of water by exhaling through a tube into the container. Then, they figure how much...

Middle schoolers discover scales for both the solar bodies' relative sizes and their distances from the sun. They find equatorial circumference and volumes of their solar bodies. Students apply estimation strategies and proportioanl...

Students create an atomic model using a computer program. In this technology instructional activity, students identify the difference between radius and diameter. They create circular patterns and spheres based on certain specifications.

Students create a large (classroom-sized) timeline showing the history of life on Earth for the last 5 billion years. They are able to identify the events that are relevant to their taxonomic projects (the Origins and important...

Fourth graders calculate the angles and construct a pie graph of the percentages of the elements in the continental and oceanic crusts. Then they analyze the results. They can be assigned the task of researching the percentages.

Young scholars make jewelry using different shapes from magazines, tissue paper, cardboard, and other materials. In this making jewelry lesson plan, students complete this hands on activity to discuss how shapes are used.

Students explore environmental awareness through reusing materials. In this environmental awareness lesson plan, students use trash to create a "trashasaurus," a large dinosaur sculpture made from waste. Detailed structure and...

Learners determine what factors effect the period of a pendulum.  For this pendulum lesson students complete a lab activity and report their findings. 

Students study the motions of the heavenly bodies.  In this space lesson students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions. 

In the following interactive students will begin to define arc length, rotation angle, radius of curvature and angular velocity. They will also calculate the angular velocity of a car wheel spin.

By the end of this section, you will be able to define arc length, rotation angle, radius of curvature, and angular velocity; and to calculate the angular velocity of a car wheel spin.