A LESSON OR TWO IN MICROGRAVITY TEACHER NOTES AND ACTIVITIES Micro Gravity isa term to describe a very low gravity environment. The word “micro” comes from the Greck work meaning small. Weightlessnes isa similar term used (o descibe (nearly) zero-gravity Asironauts in earth orbit are still being pulled by gravity and so they still have weight. but the astronauts (and their space shuttles and space stations) are “falling “ around the Earth. They no longer feel the cffects of gravity and their weight. They fecl weightless! Their insides are no longer supponed by their legs and their pelvic region, and their organs respond as though gravity was not present, They are in a state of apparent weightlessness. Now try Experiment One: the MICROGRAVITY DEMONSTRATOR ‘HE MICROGRAVITY DEMONSTRATOR SUBJECT: Free fall OBJECTIVES: The sudent will demonswate fie fal MATERIALS: Styrofoam eup | Pencil or other pied object Waer | Bucket or other water catch basin i PROCEDURE: 1. Punch asmall hole inthe side ofa styrofoam exp rex its borom. 2 Hold your thumb over the hole ax you fil the cup wath water. Ask sudens what willhagpen if you remove your thir, 3. Remove your thumb and le the water seam ‘ou into the entch tein en te or. 4. Auain escal ele wit your tumd ard eft he cap, 3. Dropthe fled cupino heeatch basin, The emensratioa is ost effective if you hold the cup high before dropping it.