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Principal Sponsors

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
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Makes grants to address the most serious social and environmental problems facing society, where risk capital, responsibly invested, may make a difference over time.
The NSF LogoNational Science Foundation

An independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science.

Excellence Center of Science and Mathematics Education at King Saud University LogoExcellence Center of Science and Mathematics Education at King Saud University

King Saud University seeks to become a leader in educational and technological innovation, scientific discovery and creativity through fostering an atmosphere of intellectual inspiration and partnership for the prosperity of society.

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Lunar Lander

Can you avoid the boulder field and land safely, just before your fuel runs out, as Neil Armstrong did in 1969? Our version of this classic video game accurately simulates the real motion of the lunar lander with the correct mass, thrust, fuel consumption rate, and lunar gravity. The real lunar lander is very hard to control.

Not standalone  
See changelog
Version 2.02
310 KB
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Topics Teaching Ideas Software Requirements Translated Versions Credits

Topics

Main Topics

  • Lunar landing
  • Moon
  • Mass
  • Thrust
  • Fuel consumption rate
  • Lunar gravity

Related Topics

Sample Learning Goals

  • Explore how the lunar lander behaves on the moon.
  • Can you measure the value of the moon's gravitational pull?
  • Explore the relation between the force vectors on the lunar lander and the amount of thrust you apply to it.
  • Challenge: how many times can you successfully land the lunar lander in different locations before running out of fuel?

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Teaching Ideas

Tips for Teachers

There is no teacher's guide for this simulation.

Ideas and Activities for this Sim

There are 5 contributions listed.

Ascending Sort (Z-A)Title Author Level Type Updated
Conservation of Energy for Middle School Image of Gold StarJ. WorkshopMSLab4/09
Lunar Lander Activity D. IsolaHSCQs1/09
Lunar Lander/ Fun Game C. LierheimerHS
UG-Intro		Lab2/09
Newton's Laws and the Lunar Lander S. wheelerUG-Intro
HS		Lab11/09
Space Cadets Lunar Landing Showdown M. PoynterHSLab5/08

Submit Your Ideas & Activities

Note: The maximum file size is 64M, with a maximum upload of 64M at a time.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

title*
file(s)
grade level(s)*
Check the PhET design guidelines (PDF)

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Software Requirements

Flash Icon

Windows Systems Macintosh Systems Linux Systems
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7
Macromedia Flash 8 or later
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later, or Firefox 2 or later
 OS 10.4.11 or later
Macromedia Flash 8 or later
Safari 2 or later, or Firefox 2 or later
 Macromedia Flash 8 or later
Firefox 2 or later

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Translated Versions

Run localized Download
Arabic Arabic Download
Chinese Taiwan Chinese, Taiwan Download
Croatian Croatian Download
Dutch Dutch Download
Estonian Estonian Download
French French Download
Khmer Khmer Download
Polish Polish Download
Slovak Slovak Download
Spanish Spanish Download

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Credits

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Michael Dubson (developer/lead)
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