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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchivesGrade Level: 7-12
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Lessons From Star Wars
Maybe you're one of
the kids who camped in line for weeks for the privilege
of seeing the first Star Wars showing on May 19th.
Maybe you're still waiting to see what is probably the
most anticipated film of all time—the movie
event of 1999.
But it's just a movie, right? It's all just for fun, right?
Actually, you might be surprised to find out how much hard-line learning you can get from Star Wars and the Internet. For this week's online lesson, be prepared to take this hot summer movie with you into the virtual classroom.
Star Wars at the Smithsonian
If you were in Washington DC earlier this year, you might have dropped by the Smithsonian to see the exhibit Star Wars: The Magic of Myth. The exhibit is no longer there, but you can still browse some parts online.
Start with the Index and read the introduction to the exhibit. Then choose from the following:
Part
1: The Feel of the Past. What do a
Roman helmet, a plague mask, and a monk's robe
all have to do with a sci-fi movie? In this part
of the exhibit you'll discover some of the
history behind the look and feel of a tale set
long ago in a galaxy far, far away.Part 2: Military Costumes and Weapons. They may look like blasters, and shoot bursts of light energy, but the weapons of Star Wars are actually modified sidearms from the world wars of this century. Find out more about the actual historical weapons and military clothing that inspired the film's design.
Part 3: Military Aviation. The Millennium Falcon may have more in common with the B-17 Bomber of W.W.II than today's spacecraft. See the aviation history that winged its way into a very futuristic film.
If your browser is
Shockwave-enabled, you can visit the cool Shockwave
version of the Star
Wars Gallery. It's the same information, but
presented through an interactive, multimedia interface.
Warp Drive When?
You get extra credit if you knew that Warp Drive refers to Star Trek, not Star Wars. Still, it's interesting to think that for some scientists, faster-than-light travel (which is impossible according to Einstein) might be possible if we can distort the fabric of space-time.
Science fiction, you say? Tell that to NASA.
They're already working on it. Visit the NASA Glenn
Research Center to learn the latest thinking
in propulsion systems. Among other things, you'll learn
about the Glenn Ion Thruster that is now being used to
propel the Deep Space 1 spacecraft with less fuel than
ever thought possible.
You should also read Warp Drive When?, NASA's introduction to breakthrough propulsion and the challenges of interstellar travel. Read the report by MSNBC called Mysteries of the Universe for more information on this and related topics.
The Physics of Gravity and Inertia Control
How do you get an X-wing out of a Dagobah
swamp? Use the Force (easy way), or shield the ship from
the effects of gravity (not so easy, but maybe possible).
Anti-gravity is a given in the Star Wars universe:
speeders hover above the ground and futuristic forklifts
make moving heavy cargo a breeze. Back at 20th century
Earth we're still working on the solution, but a
scientist named Eugene Podkletnov may have found it.
Visit the Quantum Cavorite: Podkletnov site to find out more about research into gravity shielding. Is it possible after all? Experts disagree; time will tell, but for now you'll have to decide for yourself.
SETI Institute
Star
Wars is filled with amazing intergalactic characters, all
of which emanated from one place: the creative mind of
George Lucas. But he's not the only person on this planet
focusing on galaxies far far away. The search for extra-terrestrial
intelligence is a serious scientific undertaking at the SETI Institute.
When you visit their Web site, click the Information link and follow the General Information, Science, and Searches links. Educators may want to visit the Education site for curriculum materials and information about current SETI education projects.
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