Planet research project rubric

In this project, you will research the physical and chemical properties of water, discover its role in living things, and explore the environments of nearby planets in our solar system to evaluate whether liquid water can exist.

In this lesson, you will review the scientific method and some of the physical and chemical properties of water. Then you’ll consider the role of a chemist on an astrobiology team that has been assigned to evaluate the possibility of liquid water existing on other planets or moons in our solar system.

LEARN
ACTIVITY 1: WATER AND LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS (ONLINE)
Instructions
Project Scenario
Imagine that you are a chemist on an astrobiology research team. Your team is writing a research proposal to obtain money for designing, building, launching, and operating an interplanetary probe to search for water on one of the planets or moons in our solar system. But to which one should you send your probe? You have been asked to evaluate which planets or moons in our solar system might have liquid water.

Report Guidelines
Write a 2–4 page report (approximately 600–1,200 words) that outlines your recommendation. Your report and recommendation will be essential in decision making and will guide the development of the project. Because potential investors in the project are not scientists, you must discuss basic chemistry information in a manner that they can understand.

Report Format
Report should be 2–4 pages of text, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman. Graphics and tables may be added as needed.

*Your report should address the following details:*

What is the molecular structure of water? What are the physical and chemical properties of water?
How does the structure of water explain the physical and chemical properties of water?
How does each property of water relate to or affect living things?
What are the environmental conditions on the following planets and moons (for example, temperature, pressure, gravities, and atmospheres)?