Kevin Fong asks NASA astronaut and spacewalk veteran, Dan Tani, why space suits contain the same material as a bulletproof vest.
The astronaut explains that even tiny pieces of debris in space which are travelling very fast (relative to an astronaut) can be lethal.
Kevin uses a volunteer from the audience to demonstrate that no human can throw a piece of raw carrot hard enough to puncture a sheet of cardboard.
However, when pressurised air is used to accelerate the carrot stick to a very high velocity, its kinetic energy is very high indeed, and it punches straight through the cardboard.
This clip is from the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2015.
Teacher Notes
Key Stage 3
You could ask students to describe the energy transfers taking place during the demonstration.
Students could then research the materials that spacesuits are made from and explain why using ideas about properties.
Key Stage 4
Provide students with some data and challenge them to work out the kinetic energy of some objects that might be found in orbit.
The ISS travels at 7.66 km/s so an astronaut on a spacewalk passing through a stationary field of debris is at considerable risk!
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Physics.
This topic appears at KS3 and in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland.
More from the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2015
What is Newton's Cannon and Third Law? video
Dr Kevin Fong demonstrates projectile motion, orbit and Newton鈥檚 Third Law.
Using Earth鈥檚 rotation to launch a rocket. video
Dr Kevin Fong demonstrates how a space rocket鈥檚 launch direction affects its success in reaching orbit.
How the vacuum of space affects the human body. video
Dr Kevin Fong does a demonstration to show the lethal effects of a vacuum on the human body.
Resonant Frequency. video
Dr Kevin Fong explains how sound vibrations could pose a real threat astronauts and rockets in space.
Orbital Rendezvous. video
Dr Kevin Fong demonstrates how and why it's so hard for a spacecraft to catch up with the International Space Station.
What does gas weigh? video
A demonstration that carbon dioxide can be poured because it is denser than air.
Why are bones weaker in orbit? video
Kevin Fong explains how micro-gravity can weaken bones. Models are used to show that bones are strong but light, and how low gravity weakens them.
How micro-gravity disorientates us. video
A demonstration of how dizziness occurs during motion sickness or micro-gravity.
Demonstrating radiation detectors. video
Dr Kevin Fong shows how a Geiger-Muller tube can detect ionising radiation but not the type of radiation, and how detectors on the International Space Station can.
Demonstrating heat shield material. video
Dr Kevin Fong explains that space capsules heat up due to pressure not friction. He demonstrates a heat shield鈥檚 low thermal conductivity.
Why Earth rock is found on the Moon. video
Dr Kevin Fong demonstrates how debris from meteorites hitting Earth threw Earth rock as far as the Moon, leaving clues there about Earth鈥檚 geological history.
How Earth protects us from radiation. video
Dr Kevin Fong discusses the dangers to astronauts of solar radiation, and how we鈥檙e protected from it by Earth鈥檚 atmosphere and magnetic field.
Why tardigrades can survive in orbit. video
Dr Kevin Fong explains why tardigrades are so resilient when exposed to ionising radiation lethal to most other organisms.
How to recycle urine in space. video
Dr Kevin Fong demonstrates a urine recycling system that works using osmosis, concluding by drinking the liquid that is produced.
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