Venus Radar Mapping

Challenge: How do we make a map of a planet surface we cannot see?

This is the problem scientists had to tackle in order to map Venus's surface. With just our eyes or a regular camera, we can't see past Venus' super thick clouds. So we had to use radar instead. Scientists had a spacecraft send a radio wave down to the surface, since they can travel through the clouds, and when they bounce off of the surface and return to the space craft, we could tell how far down the surface was.

In this activity you are the scientist and will be simulating using radar to map a section of an unknown world.

Supplies Needed

Empty box 8” x 11” or smaller preferably no deeper than 10” *
Random solid objects **
Markers
Wooden skewers ***
2 Numbered Grid paper - (2 copies) ****
12" Ruler
Tape

* Shoe boxes and small amazon boxes work well

** That can fit in the box and be poked with a stick without breaking or rolling around

*** Feel free to dull the tip so they are not too sharp

**** Use the shared file or make your own grids

Instructions

Click on the step for further info and tips.

Gather your supplies.

You want objects that are not too so light or too round - they tend to move out of the way when the stick pokes it. Shoe boxes and small amazon boxes work well for this activity.

2. Pack the box with the random objects without letting the scientist see inside.

For best results get items that have varying degrees of height but none taller than the box.

3. Tape a grid over top of the open box.

The grid paper needs to be tight and held strongly so they don't just remove the paper when carefully poking through. To add height to my small amazon box I taped the flaps up (pretty much doubling the height for my box).

4. Have the scientist make a radar distance color KEY. Range 0 inches to [height of box] inches.

My box was only 7.5 inches tall so our key looked like this. I recommend dividing the key into the same number of colors you have to work with. but also try to use 6 different colors minimum.

5. Have them use the color KEY to color the skewer, or "Radar Stick of Science"

6. Once you have finished the box and they have finished their radar key, they may commence gathering data. They will take the radar stick and poke a hole through a grid point. Once the stick stops at a surface, they will mark the corresponding spot on their map grid.

You can talk about how the different sized boxes will give a more detailed or less detailed map. As well as, ask them questions like: "What if you poked more than one hole per box?"

You can see below that the center of grid box 10 for mine is in the 1" - 2" range.

7. Record data

Color the grid in with the corresponding color from the stick.

8.Optional ideas:

Once the map is finished you can even ask them to refine their map by going back and poking 4 points in a box and update the current map or redoing the map using a second blank grid. (And for added fun maybe have them guess what objects are in there.)

Have them turn the data into a bar graph of height vs grid number. You can use graphs like this to help them see the data from a horizontal view.

Images from activity

This Activity was modified from AdventuresinMommydom.org 's activity. Thank you Ticia!

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