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Technology/Engineering
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Interactives for Students
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Astrospies
In "Space Race Time Line" examine turning points in the competition
between the United States and Soviet Union to dominate space during
the Cold War. (Flash plug-in required; printable version available.)
Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Battle Plan Under Fire
In "Imaging with Radar," explore a synthetic aperture radar image of
Washington, D.C., and learn about how these images are made. (Flash
plug-in required.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Beast of Loch Ness
In "Experiment with Sonar," see how sonar works and what it is used
for. Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Bomb Squad
In "Hazardous Duty Robots," read about three dangerous situations
and then decide which robot is best suited to combat each scenario.
(Shockwave plug-in required.) Grades 6-8.
Building Big: Bridges
In "Forces Lab," learn how squeezing, stretching, bending, sliding,
and twisting forces affect structures and to see real-life examples
of the effects. (Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version
available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Building Big: Dams
In "Shapes Lab," find out about the three most common shapes used to
build structures -- rectangles, arches, and triangles -- and the
forces that affect them. (Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version
available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Building Big: Domes
In "Materials Lab," discover the properties, pros and cons, and
applications of various materials, such as wood, plastic, aluminum,
and concrete. (Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version available.)
Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Building Big: Skyscrapers
In "Loads Lab," learn how loads affect structures and see examples
of loading in action, including dead load, live load, settlement
load, thermal load, earthquake load, wind load, and dynamic loads.
(Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version available.) G
Building Big: Tunnels
In "Forces Lab," learn how squeezing, stretching, bending, sliding,
and twisting forces affect structures and to see real-life examples
of the effects. (Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version
available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Crash of Flight 111
In "Anatomy of a Jetliner," look behind the metal of a late-model
Boeing 737 and explore a cutaway detailing the 12 major systems that
make it tick. (Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version available.)
Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Dimming the Sun
In "Clean Air Technologies," discover some of the tools that exist
to reduce and prevent air pollution. (Flash plug-in required;
printable version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Fire Wars
In "Wildfire Simulator," use a computer simulation to see how wind
speed and direction can affect a fire's spread and how firelines and
backfires are used to control fires. (Shockwave plug-in required;
non-Shockwave version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Great Escape
In "Inside Tunnel 'Harry,'" use an interactive map to explore the
technologies employed in the 300-foot tunnel that 76 men snuck
through during their infamous getaway. (Flash plug-in required;
non-Flash version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Harvest of Fear
In "Engineer a Crop," compare the traditional method of selective
breeding with one of the latest transgenic methods. (Shockwave
plug-in required for selective breeding; Flash plug-in required for
transgenic manipulation.) Grades 9-12.
Hitler's Lost Sub
In "Fire a Torpedo," assume the role of skipper and torpedo
specialist and aim and prepare a torpedo for firing. (Shockwave
plug-in required.) Grades 9-12.
Killer's Trail, The
In "Create a DNA Fingerprint," create a DNA fragment in a virtual
lab and analyze it to solve a mystery. (Shockwave plug-in required.)
Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Lincoln's Secret Weapon
In "Steam Machine," run a reciprocating steam engine. (Shockwave
plug-in required.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Magnetic Storm
In "See a Reversal," view a computer model simulation that
illustrates what happens during a magnetic field reversal.
(QuickTime plug-in required; non-QuickTime version available.)
Grades 6-8, 9-12.
MARS Dead or Alive
In "Design a Parachute," adjust canopy diameter, band width, and
material thickness to construct a virtual parachute for a Mars
Exploration Rover. (Flash plug-in required; non-Flash version
available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Missing in MiG Alley
In "MiG vs Sabre Anatomy" see how the Soviet MiG-15bis and the
American F-86 Sabre compare. (Flash plug-in required.) Grades 6-8,
9-12.
Nazi Prison Escape
In "The Colditz Glider," learn how a glider was fashioned out of
scavenged materials, discover how wings produce lift, and work the
controls of a Colditz glider. (Flash plug-in required.) Grades 6-8,
9-12.
Saved By the Sun
In "Inside a Solar Cell," find out how a basic photovoltaic cell
turns the sun's energy into electricity. (Flash plug-in required;
printable and downloadable versions available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Science Odyssey, A: Bigger, Better, Faster
In "Technology at Home," find out when everyday items such as the
refrigerator, television, and radio first appeared in homes and how
they changed over time. (Shockwave plug-in required; non-Shockwave
version available.) Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12.
Science Odyssey, A: Bigger, Better, Faster
In "Radio Transmission," follow the journey of a sound wave via AM
radio. (Shockwave plug-in required; non-Shockwave version
available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Secrets of Lost Empires II -- China Bridge
In "Bridge the Gap," learn about four major types of bridges and
then match the right bridge to the right location. (Shockwave
plug-in required.) Grades 3-5, 6-8.
Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Easter Island
In "Move the Moai," figure out how to move a moai across Easter
Island. (Shockwave plug-in required.) Grades 6-8.
Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Medieval Siege
In "Destroy the Castle," design a trebuchet--with five adjustable
elements--to destroy a castle wall. (Shockwave plug-in required.)
Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Pharaoh's Obelisk
In "Lever an Obelisk," use a lever, movable fulcrum, weights, and
support blocks to tip an obelisk three feet off the ground.
(Shockwave plug-in required; non-Shockwave version available.)
Grades 6-8.
Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Roman Bath
In "Construct an Aqueduct," build an aqueduct that will supply the
Roman city of Aqueductus with clean water. (Java applet or Shockwave
plug-in required.) Grades 3-5, 6-8.
Secrets of the Parthenon
In "Scenes from a Quarry," follow a marble block's journey from
quarry to Parthenon in these scenes excerpted from a book by
Acropolis Restoration Project director and architect Manolis Korres.
(Flash plug-in required.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Secrets of the Samurai Sword
In "Making a Masterpiece," follow the steps that a master Japanese
swordsmith takes today to craft a traditional katana sword. (Flash
plug-in required; printable version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12
Sinking the Supership
In "Anatomy of Yamato," click on a diagram of the Yamato to explore
its artillery, engines, living quarters and more. (Flash plug-in
required; non-Flash version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Special Effects
In "Attack of the 50-foot Chicken," make a composite using photos of
a barnyard chicken and a New York City street. (Shockwave plug-in
required; non-Shockwave version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Spies That Fly
In "Imaging with Radar," explore a synthetic aperture radar image of
Washington, D.C., and learn about how these images are made. (Flash
plug-in required.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Super Bridge
In "Build a Bridge," learn about four major types of bridges and
match the right bridge to the right location. (Shockwave plug-in
required; non-Shockwave version available.) Grades 3-5, 6-8.
Supersonic Dream
In "Anatomy of a Concorde," click on a cross-section diagram of the
Concorde to learn more about 10 of its features. (Flash plug-in
required; non-Flash version available.) Grades 6-8, 9-12.
Supersonic Spies
In "Anatomy of a Concorde," click on parts of a Concorde to learn
about its airframe, engines, fuel, nose, speed, and wings. Grades
6-8, 9-12.
What's Up With the Weather?
In "Your Carbon Diet," navigate around a typical New England house
to find what drains energy and what can be done to make a home more
energy efficient. (Shockwave plug-in required.) Grades 3-5, 6-8.
Wilds of Madagascar, The
In "Track the Fossa," learn the basics of radio tracking and use it
to find one of the Earth's deadliest carnivores, the fossa.
(Shockwave plug-in required.) Grades 6-8.
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