Real World: Using Math and New Tech to Study Lunar Rocks
Lunar rock samples, gathered more than 50 years ago, continue to reveal mysteries about our nearest neighbor, the Moon. This Real World video explores techniques used to protect and preserve the Moon rock samples, and showcases the role mathematics plays in this process.
Discussion and writing prompts
1. The Moon rocks collected during the Apollo missions are still helping scientists make new discoveries decades later. How can advances in technology allow scientists to learn new information from samples that have already been studied?
2. Mathematics helps scientists make precise measurements, analyze data, and identify patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. Why is mathematics an essential tool when studying lunar rocks and other planetary materials?
3. NASA carefully protects and preserves lunar rock samples so they can be studied by future generations using technologies that may not even exist today. Why is it important to preserve scientific samples instead of using all of them immediately?
Background Information
Grades 3 through 12
- NASA eClips Our World: The Story Moon Rocks Tell (video)
- NASA eClips Ask SME: Lunar Sample Curator Dr. Ryan Zeigler (video)
- NASA eClips Ask SME: Senior Sample Processor, Lab Manager Andrea Mosie (video)
- NASA eClips Ask SME: Artist and Astromaterials 3D Science Principal Investigator Erika Blumenfeld (video)
Grades 5 through 12
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Apollo 11 Lunar Samples (webpage)
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Collecting Moon Rocks (webpage)
- NASA Lunar Rocks and Soils from Apollo Missions (webpage)
- NASA STEM Surprisingly STEM: Moon Rock Processors (video)
- NASA's Johnson Space Center Lunar and Meteorite Sample Disk Program (video)
Grades 6 through 12
- NASA Astromaterials (webpage)
Activities
Grades 3 through 8
- NASA eClips Our World: Dirt (lesson pdf)
- NASA Reaping Rocks (p. 33 of Exploring the Moon Teacher's Guide) (pdf)
Grades 3 through 12
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Rocks Tell Us the Moon's Story (webpage)
- NASA Find a Moon Rock (interactive)
- NASA Lunar & Meteorite Sample Disk Program (webpage)
- NASA's Johnson Space Center Astromaterials 3D (interactive)
- NASA's Johnson Space Center Rocks, Soils, and Surfaces (webpage)
- NISE Exploring the Solar System: Asteroid Mining (webpage)