In this lesson, learners will first use computers to research and learn how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Next, they will calculate the surface area of solar panels board a satellite and their total power generated in various... (View More) positions of the satellite, given the dimension of the panels. After, learners will organize and write a report summarizing the information about the MMS mission satellites. This activity requires student access to internet accessible computers. This is lesson four of the MMS Mission Educator's Instructional Guide, which uses examples from the mission to introduce mathematics (focusing on geometry) in a real-world context. The lessons use the 5E instructional cycle. Note: MMS launched March 12, 2015. For the latest science and news, visit the MMS Mission Website under Related & Supplemental Resources (right side of this page). (View Less)

This is an activity about satellite size. Learners will calculate the volume of the IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration) satellite, the first satellite mission to image the Earth's magnetosphere. They will then determine the... (View More) effect of doubling and tripling the satellite dimensions on the satellite's mass and cost. This is the first activity in the Solar Storms and You: Exploring Satellite Design educator guide. (View Less)

This is an activity about scale model building. Learners will use mathematics to determine the scale model size, construct a pattern, and build a one-fourth size scale model of the IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration)... (View More) satellite, the first satellite mission to image the Earth's magnetosphere. This is the third activity in the Solar Storms and You: Exploring Satellite Design educator guide. (View Less)