Educator Guide: Water-Striding Insects and Electrolysis in Space

Nature solved a great design ‘feet’ — and engineers are now taking notice. Inspired by water-striding insects, they’ve invented a fancy-footed, water-walking robot. Learn how researchers might look to nature for inspiration in design and invention. Answer questions about the value of analogies in explaining unfamiliar concepts, then discuss possible applications for fancy-footed robots.

Students will consider how atoms and molecules interact with one another. Then they’ll analyze the effects of different types of energy on chemical reactions and how forces impact the motion of gas bubbles in a solution. Students will work in pairs to formalize their thinking using models to understand matter, energy and forces during chemical reactions.