Locomotion in space

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/locomotion-in-space

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the governing physics?Newtonian mechanics, particularly inertia and the action-reaction principle, in a microgravity environment
2. What is the primary EVA translation method?Manual translation along handrails and guide wires, secured by safety tethers
3. What happens to astronauts when they move inside the ISS?Inside the ISS, astronauts are in microgravity, so they float. They move by pushing against walls or handrails, and they keep moving until something stops them.
4. How do astronauts push themselves around in space?They use Newton's third law: when they push on a surface, the surface pushes back, sending them in the opposite direction.

Microgravity: A condition where gravitational forces are significantly reduced, leading to a state of near-weightlessness and continuous freefall.
Extravehicular Activity (EVA): Any space activity performed by an astronaut outside their spacecraft, commonly referred to as a spacewalk.
Newton's Laws of Motion: Fundamental principles describing inertia, acceleration, and the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, critical for understanding space locomotion.