NASA | Solid-like Materials
Why do Brazil nuts end up on top of the mix? Why do footprints on wet sand seem to dry the ground? How can a pile of snow turn into an avalanche—and what does that have to do with exploring the Moon? This learning pathway dives into the curious, surprising, and essential physics of granular materials—substances like sand, nuts, soil, and snow that behave like both solids and fluids. Through hands-on investigations, real-world analogies, and even NASA rover testing, you will explore the physical principles that govern granular behavior in everyday life and in planetary exploration.
Topics
- NASA
- engineering
- granular physics
- non-Newtonian fluids
- Brazil nut effect
- shade balls
- shear stress
- angle of repose
- avalanches
- landslides
- sand behavior
- lunar surface simulation
- NASA rover testing
- planetary exploration
- motion and force
- granular flow
- soil mechanics
- space engineering
- real-world physics
- material behavior
- science experiments