• Geometric shapes and their formulas

• 2-dimensional shapes formulas
• 3-dimensional shapes formulas
• exterior angle sum theorem

Paper and pencil

Procedure: This project should be done by students individually or in teams of two or
three.

After watching The Futures Channel Mechanical Engineering video, tell students they
will be using their knowledge of geometry to solve real world problems.

Invite students to imagine they work at Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) alongside
Sergio Valdez. Sergio and his team have started a new project. The parts for a new
satellite have arrived at JPL and must be brought into the Spacecraft Assembly Facility
(SAF). The JPL SAF High Bay 1 (known as a cleanroom) is approximately 80 ft by 120
ft and 44 ft high. SAF High Bay 1 has a 20 ft wide by 15 ft high set of hanger doors,
which lead to the lot the satellite is in. The first assembly station is inside the SAF at the
midpoint of the left-hand shorter wall.

BEFORE they do the work on the handout, have each student make a drawing of the
dimensions of SAF High Bay 1. Draw the walls, the bay doors and station one in the
correct locations.

Now give the students the handout. Have them use their knowledge of geometry to
answer the questions. NOTE: for 7th graders, do ONLY Part one. For 8th graders
and above, do BOTH part A and part B.

REGARDING STUDENT HANDOUT

See page 2 on the pdf for the Student Handout.