Lesson .

Deadly Dust: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

Subject

Math

Grade Levels

6-7

Time Required

Under 30 mins

Overview

The "Pi in the Sky" math challenge gives students a chance to take part in recent discoveries and upcoming celestial events, all while using math and pi just like NASA scientists and engineers. In this problem from the set, students use the mathematical constant pi to calculate how much of Mars was covered during the giant 2018 dust storm.

Materials

Pi in the Sky 6: Deadly Dust worksheet – Download PDF
Pi in the Sky 6 answer key – Download PDF

Background

In late spring of 2018, a dust storm began on Mars and eventually covered nearly the entire planet in a cloud of dust. Darkness fell across Mars’ surface, blocking sunlight used by the solar-powered Opportunity rover to charge its batteries. At its height, the storm covered all but the peak of Olympus Mons, the largest known volcano in the solar system. In the Deadly Dust challenge, students must use pi to calculate what percentage of the Red Planet was covered by the dust storm.

Procedures

Deadly Dust

In the summer of 2018, a large dust storm enshrouded Mars, blocking visibility over a large portion of the planet. The thick dust covered almost all of the Mars surface, blocking the vital sunlight that NASA’s solar-powered Opportunity rover needed to survive. In fact, the storm was so intense and lasted for so long that Opportunity, which had spent 14.5 years traveling around the Red Planet, never managed to regain consciousness and the mission had to come to an end.

During the height of the storm, only the upper caldera of one of the solar system’s largest volcanos, Olympus Mons, peeked out above the dust cloud. The diameter of Olympus Mons’ caldera is approximately 70 km.

What percent of the Mars surface was covered in dust at that time?

Illustration of Mars before the dust storm with the view from the rover showing full sun, then a view after the dust storm with the rover's view of the sun blacked out

› Download PDF.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Kim Orr

Assessment

Infographic answer key for all of the Pi in the Sky 6 graphics and problems

Extensions

Participate

educators.

Pi Day Challenge Lessons

Here's everything you need to bring the NASA Pi Day Challenge into the classroom.

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Slideshow: NASA Pi Day Challenge

The entire NASA Pi Day Challenge collection can be found in one, handy slideshow for students.

educators.

Pi Day: What’s Going ’Round

Tell us what you’re up to this Pi Day and share your stories and photos with NASA.

Join the conversation and share your Pi Day Challenge answers with @NASAJPL_Edu on social media using the hashtag #NASAPiDayChallenge

Blogs and Features

students.

How Many Decimals of Pi Do We Really Need?

While you may have memorized more than 70,000 digits of pi, world record holders, a JPL engineer explains why you really only need a tiny fraction of that for most calculations.

students.

Slideshow: 18 Ways NASA Uses Pi

Whether it's sending spacecraft to other planets, driving rovers on Mars, finding out what planets are made of or how deep alien oceans are, pi takes us far at NASA. Find out how pi helps us explore space.

Multimedia

students.

Infographic: Planet Pi

This poster shows some of the ways NASA scientists and engineers use the mathematical constant pi (3.14) and includes common pi formulas.

Lesson Last Updated: Oct. 11, 2024

Deadly Dust: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

Geometry7.G.B.4

Geometry7.G.B

Ratios and Proportional Relationships7.RP.A.3

Expressions and Equations6.EE.A.1

Overview

Materials

Background

Procedures

Deadly Dust

Assessment

Extensions

Participate

Blogs and Features

Multimedia

Facts and Figures

Missions and Instruments

Websites