The scientists at NASA are busy people. Since the late 1950's, NASA scientists have invented many things to help people explore space. Some of these inventions have led to products that make life a little easier for people on Earth, too!
NASA scientists have helped create barcodes, TV satellite dishes, ear thermometers, ski boots, and smoke detectors. These are just a few of the everyday products that people use thanks to NASA.
About thirty years ago, NASA scientists were studying the problem of moving rocket fuel. When a rocket leaves the atmosphere, it is no longer affected by gravity. The scientists wanted to invent a way to help move rocket fuel from the fuel tank through fuel pipes to the engine. Without the force of gravity, it was a tricky task. The scientists decided to put lots of little pieces of iron inside of the rocket fuel. Then they used a magnet to help pull the fuel through the fuel pipe. What they created was a magnetic fluid.
A magnetic fluid is a liquid with a magnetic substance, such as iron, suspended in the fluid. When a magnet is moved near the magnetic fluid, all of those little pieces of iron line up and create a rigid web inside of the fluid. This web allows the motion of the fluid to be controlled by a magnet.
Since experimenting with rocket fuel thirty years ago, scientists have looked at other uses for magnetic fluids. Today, magnetic fluids are used in shock absorbers for some cars. Magnetic fluids have also been built into the structure of a few buildings. These buildings are in areas on the Earth's surface that have a lot of earthquakes. The magnetic fluid in a building's structure acts like a shock absorber when an earthquake hits. Scientists are also studying ways to use magnetic fluids to make robots with more human-like movement.
Who knows what magnetic fluids will help people do in the future?
- A substance, such as air or water, that flows easily and takes the shape of its container. All liquids and gases are fluids.
- A state of matter that does not have its own shape.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- shock absorber:
- A device used to lessen an impact.
- To hang.
- What magnetic material did NASA scientists use in rocket fuel?
[anno: The magnetic material the NASA scientists used in the rocket fuel was iron.]
- Magnetic fluids are used to help control the motion of a fluid. Invent another use for a magnetic fluid. Think of an object or a structure that would benefit from a magnetic fluid. What does the magnetic fluid help the object or structure do? Does the fluid help to control motion in part of the object or structure, as in a robotic arm? Or does the fluid, like a shock absorber for a building, help to control motion for the entire structure? How is the magnetic fluid contained? Write a few sentences describing your invention. Include details that tell how magnetic fluid helps the invention. Then draw a picture of your invention. Show where the fluid is stored in the object or structure. Be creative!
[anno: Answers will vary.]