Exploring Mars

What You'll Learn

Mars is called the Red Planet because iron oxide (rust) covers its surface. Scientists send rovers to Mars to search for evidence of past water and possible microbial life.

Key Words

gravity
light-year

Materials Needed

compass
black paper
foil
scissors
flashlight

Safety First

Wash hands after handling materials.
Be careful with scissors — ask an adult for help if needed.
Do not look directly at the sun or bright lights.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on Space before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Time how long it takes for a shadow to move 10 cm. Use this to calculate how fast Earth is rotating.

Step 3 — Observe

Note any unexpected results and think about why they happened.

Step 4 — Record

Share your findings with the class or a partner and discuss what you learned.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

How long does it take Earth to orbit the sun?