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Structure and Properties of Matter: Ion Propulsion

Module Overview

Welcome to the Structure and Properties of Matter: Ion Propulsion module. This standards aligned module is intended to engage students and the interested public in the propulsion technology that is necessary for Dawn to complete its mission. As students interact with this module, they will gain an understanding of :

charges and relative charge
momentum and frames of reference
ionization and plasma
how an ion propulsion system works
experiment with designing an ion engine to determine optimal conditions using an interactive simulation.

This module is organized around a learning cycle and engages students in a number of experiences in order for the teacher to activate students’ prior knowledge, assess student conceptual understanding in order to inform instruction.

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Briefing Teacher Guide PDF 240 Kb	How Do We Get There? Just like a mission briefing for the press, the purpose of this section of the module is to provide students with some background information about the Dawn mission and the need for a spacecraft with ion propulsion in order to meet mission objectives.
	Timeline (PDF 44k) Student Information Sheet Ion Propulsion Story Mapping History Frame (PDF 44k) Student Activity How Do We Get There? PowerPoint (PPT 6.4 Mb)
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Exploration Teacher Guide PDF 212 Kb	We Need a Push The Exploration section of this Ion Propulsion Module focuses on the basic science necessary for understanding the design and operation of an ion propulsion engine.
	Charges (PDF 100k) Student Reading Pushing with Plasma (PDF 144k) Student Reading Attractive and Repulsive Forces (PDF 96k) Student Activity Attractive and Repulsive Forces (PDF 44k) Student Reporting Sheet Positive and Negative Charges Interactive Simulation
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Development Teacher Guide Pdf 136 Kb	Where Are We? Students will develop an understanding that motion is relative by reading the text “Frames of Reference.” As a follow-up to the reading, engage students in a writing-to-learn strategy that can help students understand how motion depends on specific frames of reference, as they are asked to assume a specific frame of reference and describe motion in relation to multiple perspectives.
___________________________	Frames of Reference (PDF 88k) Student Reading Relative Motion RAFT Writing Activity (PDF 5k) Student Activity Powered by the Sun (PDF 80k) Student Reading
Interaction Synthesis Teacher Guide Pdf 238 Kb	Getting Charged Up In the Interaction/Synthesis section of the Ion Propulsion Module, students will follow a single xenon atom as it travels through an ion propulsion engine, putting together the scientific concepts that play a part in moving the Dawn spacecraft.
___________________________	A Trip Through An Ion Propulsion Engine (PDF 32k) Student Reading The Trip of One Xenon Atom Through an Ion Engine (PPT 3 Mb) PowerPoint
Assessment Teacher Guide PDF 164 Kb	Design an Ion Engine Students apply the background information from this module to determine what Plate Location settings and what Plate Charge produces the most thrust for the engine.
___________________________	Ion Propulsion Engine Simulation (PDF 76k), Student Activity and Report Sheet