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Dangerous Dust

Youth explore how well different materials resist or collect dust.

Youth Will Know
  • Dust contamination can be a hazard for astronauts and equipment in space. 
  • Some materials prevent dust from sticking to them better than others.

Activity Downloads

A4_Dangerous_Dust_Educator_Guide
Dangerous Dust Educator Guide
pdf 582.21 KB
A4_Dangerous_Dust_Engineering_Journal
Dangerous Dust Engineering Journal (English)
pdf 268.04 KB
A4_Dangerous_Dust_Engineering_Journal_Spanish
Dangerous Dust Engineering Journal (Spanish)
pdf 896.18 KB
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Setup

The Educator Guide has a script, materials list, and prep directions. Be sure to have it open and ready to help guide you through every activity. It will take about 30 minutes to prepare for this activity. 

  • Post the EDP Poster. 
  • Get the Message from the Duo ready. 
  • Post Testing Results chart and add a Dust column (Educator Guide p. 52). 
  • Set up the Materials Table. 
  • Set up testing stations (sand, gravel, glow powder, washers, aluminum trays, black light) (Educator Guide p. 56). 
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Guiding Question

Which materials are good at resisting dust?

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Youth Will Do

  • Test and compare how dust resistant different materials are.
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Did You Know?

  • Dust on the Moon is sharp, like tiny pieces of glass, because there is no water or wind to erode the particles. When wind and water move particles on Earth, they collide with each other and the sharp edges get knocked off.
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Quick Tips

  • If glow powder is not available, then non-borax laundry detergent can be substituted. 
  • View the Dangerous Dust video.
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Glossary

Dust Resistant: a quality or treatment of a material that prevents dust from sticking to it

Audio

Soundcloud

Related Videos

Dangerous Dust
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Dangerous Dust
Why Is Dust Dangerous?
How to Design a Space Glove

Activity Timing

5 min
Message from the Duo
5 min
Set the Stage
30 min
Ask: Which Material Is Best?
5 min
Reflect
45 min
Total