The Martian Movie Worksheet (2015, PG-13)

Description

The Martian is an excellent movie demonstrating the science behind survival. Mark Watney becomes stranded on Mars and has only his scientific training and can-do attitude to save him, while waiting for rescue. This film delves topically into the actual scientific mechanics of interplanetary survival in terms of chemistry, physics, and also Earth-based politics. Scientific topics discussed include Newton’s First and Second Laws of Motion, the gravitational slingshot effect, orbits, trajectories, relative velocity, the chemistry of combustion, mass and acceleration, space flight, human isolation, Martian dust storms, heat from nuclear fission, botany, air pressure differentials, electrostatic charges, evaporation, condensation, logistics planning, long-range radio communications, the light minute, hexadecimal communication system, artificial gravity, circular motion, mass and escape velocity, and G forces.
The movie is appropriate for physics, astronomy, general science, physical science, chemistry, and perhaps even psychology classes. (Although Castaway would be a better choice for investigating the psychology of survival.)

The runtime for the movie is 2:16, with about 45 minutes of viewing over a 3-day period. There are 43 questions, with the majority being higher-order in nature. The questions pertain, chiefly, to the science shown in the film. There is a scene where the audience is treated to a view of Matt Damon’s backside. This occurs between 1:37:45-1:37:52. Depending on the maturity of your students, you might want to skip these few seconds.

Newton’s First Law of Motion, Newton’s Second Law of Motion, gravitational slingshot effect, orbits, trajectories, relative velocity, chemistry of combustion, mass and acceleration, space flight, human isolation, Martian dust storms, heat nuclear fission, botany, air pressure differentials, electrostatic charges, evaporation, condensation, logistics planning, long range radio communications, light minute, speed of light, hexadecimal communication system, artificial gravity, circular motion, mass and escape velocity, G forces