All visitors will take a shuttle from the front of the building to the Science Centre's exhibit halls.
Provide this worksheet to Grade 9 students to help guide them throughout the Science Centre’s exhibit halls. Students can fill out the worksheet throughout the day by working independently, collaborating with others and asking for help when needed.
All questions on the worksheet are connected to the Grade 9 science curriculum. Use the answer key below to review and discuss students’ responses as a class during or after your visit.
Some examples of curriculum topics covered include Earth and space science, biology and chemistry.
A1. The astronaut is connected to the Canadarm.
A2. Answers will vary. Possible uses for the Canadarm include supporting astronauts during spacewalks, using cameras for visual inspection of the Shuttle and its payload, building/construction, and repair of solar arrays or telescopes.
B1. Air expelled by the rockets in the chair pushes down, creating a thrust force. This makes the chair move.
B2. Answers will vary. Examples may include air hockey or flyboards.
B3. The astronaut would need to move the SAFER backward to move forward.
B4. Pushing backward against the ground (the action) propels the skateboard forward (the reaction).
C1. The Andromeda Galaxy is our closest neighbour.
C2. The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away.
D1. The Sun is made from all four elements listed here.
E1. The Moon orbits Earth 13 times per year. It makes a complete orbit of Earth every 28 days.
E2. Earth’s tilt on its axis causes unequal heating from the Sun across Earth’s surface. This is why seasons differ across the planet.
E3. The Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.
E4. Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.
F1. Most cosmic rays are atomic nuclei: atoms stripped of their electrons. Cosmic rays also include electrons, positrons and other subatomic particles.
F2. Answers will vary. The chamber contains super-cooled, super-saturated alcohol vapour on the brink of condensation. When a high-energy particle passes through the chamber, it collides with air molecules, leaving a trail of charged particles. These trails may be long and straight or thin and wispy.
F3. Supernovas occur about once every 50 years in our galaxy.
G1. A watershed is a network of land and water. It is the area of land where all water under the land or draining off of it goes to the same body of water.
G2. Lake Erie was polluted with phosphates and nitrates from industrial and municipal wastewater, as well as with fertilizers running off from farmland. This caused an overgrowth of algae.
G3. Pollution controls were imposed by Canada and the United States to reduce the amount of phosphate allowed in detergents. The government also began diverting sewage to new treatment plants.
H1. Answers will vary. Students could mention:
H2. Answers will vary. Students may choose plastic, petroleum, lanterns, musical instruments, film, backpacks or medicine.
H3. Answers will vary.
H4. Answers will vary.