May the G force be with you Questions:

Multiple Choice:

1) How does the Johnsville human centrifuge contribute to the space program?

A. By training astronauts for moon missions.

B. By testing G forces on the human body

C. By simulating deep space conditions

2) When was the Johnsville human centrifuge built?

A. 1939

B. 1949

C. 1950’s

3) How fast did the arm of the centrifuge spin?

A. 175 mph

B. like a helicopter propeller

C. 11,000 square feet

4) What did the Johnsville Centrifuge teach engineers about cockpit design?

A. The importance of tunnel vision

B. The need for a control stick between the pilots' legs

C. The placement of gauges in the center of the control panel

Short Answer:

4) Why was the Johnsville Centrifuge location selected?

5) Name two famous astronauts who trained on the centrifuge.

Critical Thinking:

Discuss the pros and cons of exposing astronauts to dangerous G-forces during testing.

Resources:

https://pbs39.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/arct14.sci.nvgforce/all-about-g-forces/

https://pbs39.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/npe11.sci.eng.design.horrors/nasa-chamber-of-horrors/

Extended Activities:

• Research the X-15 hypersonic aircraft and write a short paragraph about its significance in space exploration.
• Design your own cockpit layout for a spacecraft. Explain your design choices and how they would help astronauts
handle high G forces.
• Imagine you are a test pilot for NASA. Write a journal entry describing your experience inside the Johnsville
human centrifuge.
Curriculum Links:

• Science: Space and Motion

• History: Space Exploration

• Technology: Aerospace Engineering

• Language Arts: Reading Comprehension, Writing Skills

• Critical Thinking: Problem-solving, Analytical Skills