Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

Computers and maths in space

Mathematics plays a vital part in space flight, it gives us a way both to predict what should happen in the future and also ways to measure what’s actually happening in the present, and adapt to it. In this resource we look at a few places where maths helps in space flight. The maths is made simple here (it’s far, far more complicated in reality), but the exercises will help students explore basic ideas and get a feel for the significance of maths in space.

The lesson is structured in activity sections

• Maths tools - covers basic maths ideas in accelerometers and GPS

• Getting up – a maths activity related to docking at the ISS

• Getting down – a maths activity related to re-entry of the capsule

Each activity uses simple maths ideas and hands on calculations but set in an engaging context of space exploration.

Show health and safety information

Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.

Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.

Lists that tag this content

STEM Space, POSTED BY