High school students, as scientists, will apply ideas about chemical reactions and forces and motion to answer the driving question: How did the solid and liquid propellants generate the right amount of thrust for each phase of the Ariane 5 + JWST system’s flight path? Students begin by summarizing the patterns they have observed related to chemical reactions, energy, and forces, and consider how they can apply this understanding to the launch of the JWST. Students identify the need for additional information about the JWST + Ariane 5 system and the solid and liquid propellants used to generate thrust. Next, students evaluate information about solid and liquid propellants and generate a Gotta-Have-It checklist for a model explaining how the Ariane 5 rocket launched and delivered the JWST to Lagrange 2. Finally, students use what they have learned throughout this Playlist to write an explanation of how the Ariane 5 rocket launched and delivered the JWST to Lagrange 2. Students return to their initial Driving Question Board to determine which of the questions they had can now be answered.

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This lesson is Lesson 4 of the Combustion of Rocket Propellants Playlist.

Student Materials

Per Student

• ExGen_HSPlay_L4_SG

Teacher Materials

• ExGen HSPlay L4  Slides

Optional Teacher Materials

• Extension: Energy Transformations During Chemical Reactions