Travel to a black holeTravel to a black hole

Having the space experience: would you go? would you go?

Imagine . . .you are offered a free trip on one of the new Virgin Galactic spaceplanes to the Space Station – Would you go?Would you go?

What would you What would you see?see?

Earthrise . . . One of the first views of planet Earth taken from the vantage point of space

Apollo 8 24 December 1968

Read the article: travel to a black holetravel to a black hole

What exactly is a black holeblack hole?

3 types of black holes3 types of black holes

• Stellar – 3 to 10 times the mass of our Sun

• Supermassive – millions or billions of times the mass of our Sun

• Intermediate – 100 to 1000 times the mass of our Sun

MILKY WAY MONSTERMILKY WAY MONSTER

Most astronomers agree that there may be a supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy

ACTIVITY 1:ACTIVITY 1: A Short StoryA Short StoryWrite a short story about the first journey Write a short story about the first journey

to a black hole. to a black hole. • Plan it first.• Include a mixture of scientifically accurate

information as well as pure fiction – but make sure YOU know which is which! (let your imagination go!)

• At the end, make a list of the things in your story that were not scientifically accurate with the knowledge scientists have today. Say which of these things do you think scientists will find answers to in the future and which do you think are pure fiction and impossible to accomplish.

ACTIVITY 2:ACTIVITY 2: What’s it like ‘living’ in space?What’s it like ‘living’ in space?

Choose ONE possible effect of living in space and prepare to give a 5-10 minute talk about it. (can use ppt / poster presentation / etc)• space motion sickness • fluid shift - fluid shifts from the

lower to upper body – giving a puffy feeling especially in the face and hands

• cardiovascular de-conditioning • decrease in red blood cell mass • mineral losses and bone loss in

the lower extremities • temporary loss of sense of

balance • a significant increase in the

urinary excretion of calcium • significant nitrogen and

phosphorus loss, presumably associated with muscle tissue loss (atrophy)

• muscle loss - especially in the legs

ACTIVITY 3:ACTIVITY 3: A Space Travel BrochureA Space Travel BrochureDesign a space tourism brochure, offering information on:

• How you will travel.• Departure and return dates. • What your accommodation,

living conditions and meals will be like.

• What you should pack to wear. • Sightseeing – describe at least 5

‘sights’ in detail. • Health warning – what are the

possible health risks? • Cost. The brochure should be attractively

presented (show off all your computer skills!), including photos and accurate information.

How realistic is travel to space for everyday people? Why/Why not?

What is needs to be considered for staying in space for any length of time?

How realistic is travel to a black hole? Why/Why not?

What would make travel to black holes possible – or is such a trip impossible? Why?

PlenarPlenaryy