QUEST FOR SPACE

Computer Programmer: Tyler Alexa: Electrical Engineer

Project Assistant: Marta Elizabeth: Documentarian

Mechanical Engineer: Esme Vanessa: Project Manager

Jose: Astrobiologist

High Tech High Chula Vista

1945 Discovery Falls Dr
Meghan White & Kara Quinlan
mwhite@hightechhigh.org / kquinlan@hightechhigh.org
What is natural vs forced convection heat transfer? How
does this relate to space exploration and space suits
maintaining homeostasis for astronauts?

● we’re exploring the difference in natural and forced

convection of heat/differences in being transferred
● logging the difference in information we receive
● we can further understand how an astronaut’s spacesuit protects them from extreme
temperatures, suffocation, and physical factors that might affect their ability to
operate, especially in microgravity
● in any instance, their life can be at risk
What is natural convection? How does this work? Which
states of matter (gas, liquid, solid) does this apply to?
● Natural convection applies to both gas and liquids
● Process of free convection is specifically fluid motion generated by density differences in
the fluid that happen through temperature gradients
● This is seen when a fluid surrounding a heat source receives heat and thermal expansion
causes the liquid to rise due to the lack of density.
What is an example of natural convection on Earth and in
space? How will natural convection be in microgravity in
space? Give an example
● Example of natural convection on earth: when the hot in air rises to the highest point in
a house and the colder air stays at a lower level on the inside the house
● In space, convection and conduction do not exist so the only way that heat can travel
would be through radiation, and a example of this can be the sun rays floating towards
earth.
What is forced convection? How does this work? Which
states of matter (gas, liquid, solid) does this apply to?
● Forced convection can be described as man made as it does not happen naturally
● Rather it happens when a fluid is forced to move via a ceiling fan, pump, etc
● This works when cold air is pushed downwards and hot air is being pushed up creating
a cycle of cold air
What is an example of forced convection on Earth and in
space? How will forced convection differ in space? Give an
example
● Example of forced convection on Earth: typical ceiling fan found in any household
● In space, forced convection is the only way to regulate a human’s temperature as we do
not have any other way of heat transfer
● The ISS uses forced convection by using the same concept as applied on Earth
● Using multiple fans around the station provides a cool area, although very loud and
often difficult to sleep in environment
Explain how an astronaut relies on convection in their
space suits. How are the space suits engineered to
incorporate convection?
● Inside the space suits there is small fans circulating cool air around to the suit to prevent
the astronaut from become overheated
● Another thing that the fans prevent is the visor from fogging up and blocking visibility
● When astronauts are completing tedious tasks, it is expected to begin sweating and
produce body heat
● Much like a warm car begins to fog up the windows, the same applies within these suits
so the fans prevent this from happening.
How does evaporation and fire use convection? How do you
predict that would fire and evaporation be affected in
microgravity?
● The fire releases heat in which will normally surround a fluid that will eventually cause
evaporation
● Evaporation I assume would still occur but it will disperse everywhere rather than rise
to its lack of density
Explain the similarities and differences of heat transfer that
we are discovering from experiment #1 to experiment #2
● A big similarity between both experiments is that we were interested in the earth results
and space results then afterwards we compared them
● This experiment was focus more on how convection happens rather than how its
trapped
● For example how heat was moved from a place to another using fans
● Colors were also used to contain and reflect heat to see which would cool down faster
Project Manager

Project Manager’s Role

1. Teamwork Role
2. Timelapse of mechanical engineer
3. Electrical build with the electrical engineer
4. Troubleshooting with mechanical and
electrical engineer
5. Recorded electrical engineer
6. Edited timelapse video
Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer’s role

1. Made a timelapse on circuit
2. Helped with the troubleshoot video
3. Voicing for videos
4. Checked the circuit
5. Analyze the graph
Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer’s tasks

1. Check for equipment
2. Assemble and adjust hardware
3. Document timelapse
4. Do the troubleshooting with computer
programmer and electrical engineer
5. Graphing and Data analysis
Computer Programmer

Computer Programmer’s role

1. Recorded electrical engineer
2. Made the code
3. Wrote comments on the code
4. Fixed code
5. Troubleshooting with mechanical engineer
Documentarian
This job relates to the real world

Astrobiologist/Documentarian Role
1. Do title page
2. Do research
3. Insert research into Lab Report
4. Create presentation slides for Ex #1 and #2
5. Create Group Hypothesis
Astrobiologist
This relates to the real world because even
simple, tedious tasks can be crucial in group
work

1. Do title page
2. Do research
3. Make it all MLA format
4. Add visual representation to answers on
research
5. Add team role pictures
Troubleshooting

1. We believe that the set up of the experiment cube is not working correctly because the plastic is touching the metal which will
burn and smoke up when the code is running.

So our plan of action to test and troubleshoot this problem is to

Move the plastic somewhere else where it would burn up and then run the code.

This fixed the problem because the plastic didn’t burn up and the code was able to run successfully.

2. We believe that the set up of the bread board is not working correctly because we forgot to put in the resistors.

So our plan of action to test and troubleshoot this problem is to put them where they go so that there’s not too much
voltage/current going to the cube.

This fixed the problem because now the set up of the breadboard is correct and working.
Step 2- Troubleshooting Checkoff list-Go through each troubleshooting step and
Circle Yes/No
1. Is the breadboard plugged in to a wall and the red light turned on? Yes/No
2. Is there batteries in the EV3? Yes/No
3. Did you check if the EV3 is emitting power to the circuit board with the motor test? Yes/No
4. Did you double check the circuit board model that all of the resistors, wires, and configuration is
correct? Yes/No
5. Did you double check that the mechanical engineering model was correct? Yes/No
6. Did you check the voltage across the breadboard using the voltameter? Yes/No
7. Did you double check your design with Ms. Meghan? Yes/No
8. Is your program and experiment code loaded onto the EV3? Yes/No
9. Did you double check your code with Ms. Meghan? Yes/No
10. Does part of your breadboard/code work? Yes/No
11. If you circled all of these yes and still it is not working, what do you predict is wrong?
Written above

Hypothesis
We predict that the top sensor will heat faster than the bottom sensor with
the experiment cube and holes completely open on Earth because heat
will continue to rise when it is being radiated.
We predict that the bottom sensor will heat faster than the top sensor with
the experiment cube and holes completely open in space because the heat
will not travel up as it does in space. The heat will linger as it does in
microgravity.
We predict that the top sensor will cool faster than the bottom sensor with
the experiment cube and
holes completely open on Earth because the radiating heat will stop and
be felt from the source but this will be felt more in the bottom sensor.
We predict that the top sensor will cool faster than the bottom sensor with
the experiment cube and
holes completely open in space because the heat will stop and not be
affectant to the top sensor.
We predict that the top sensor will heat faster
than the bottom sensor with the experiment
cube and holes completely covered on Earth
because heat rises.
We predict that the top sensor will heat faster
than the bottom sensor with the experiment
cube and holes completely covered in space
because the radiating heat will still remain and
move.
We predict that the bottom sensor will cool
faster than the top sensor with the experiment
cube and holes completely covered on
Earth because the remaining radiation of
heat will rise, affecting the top sensor.
We predict that the top sensor will cool faster
than the bottom sensor with the experiment
cube and holes completely covered in space
because the remaining heat may remain in the
same general area when applied in
microgravity.
Experiment Graphs for Closed
Experiment Graphs for Open
Thank you!!!
Your Sources MLA Works Cited What I used/learned from this resource

1 “FREE CONVECTION.” THERMOPEDIA™, We learned what causes natural convection to

http://www.thermopedia.com/ www.thermopedia.com/content/786/. happen
content/786/

2 “Natural Convection - Free Convection.” Nuclear Power, Definition of natural convection and how its a
www.nuclear-power.net/nucle www.nuclear-power.net/nuclear-engineering/heat-transfer/c way of heat transfer
ar-engineering/heat-transfer/co onvection-convective-heat-transfer/natural-convection-free-c
nvection-convective-heat-trans onvection/.
fer/natural-convection-free-co
nvection/.

3 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, and Helmenstine. “Convection Examples of natural convection currents in our
www.thoughtco.com/convecti Currents and How They Work.” Thoughtco., Dotdash, everyday world
on-currents-definition-and-exa www.thoughtco.com/convection-currents-definition-and-exa
mples-4107540 mples-4107540.

4 “Forced Convection.” Internal Combustion Engine - Energy Some examples of forced convection and how it
energyeducation.ca/encyclope Education, differs from natural convection
dia/Forced_convection energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Forced_convection.
5 “Temperature System.” How Does Gravity Work in How temperature would work in space
www.qrg.northwestern. Space?,
edu/projects/vss/docs/t www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/therm
hermal/2-does-heat-mo al/2-does-heat-move-differently-in-space.html.
ve-differently-in-space.
html

6 “Forced Convection.” Internal Combustion Engine

energyeducation.ca/enc - Energy Education,
yclopedia/Forced_conv energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Forced_convectio
ection n.

7 “Heat Transfer in Microgravity.” IMPRESS We learned how radiation is the only way heat transfer in space
www.spaceflight.esa.in Education: Heat Transfer,
t/impress/text/educatio www.spaceflight.esa.int/impress/text/education/Hea
n/Heat%20Transfer/Mi t%20Transfer/Microgravity%2001.html.
crogravity%2001.html

8 NASA, NASA, er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/suitnasa.html. What's inside a astronaut space suit

er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/suit
nasa.html