The Science Behind the 1986 Challenger Disaster

:rocket:The Challenger disaster was caused by a combination of factors, including bad joint design of the solid rocket boosters.

:snowflake:Faulty O-rings that didn't perform well at low temperatures also contributed to the explosion.

:red_circle:The rocket boosters were not actually round, which could have further contributed to the disaster.

:triangular_ruler:Solid shapes of constant width, like the rocket boosters, can have non-circular cross sections.

:compass:Drawing three intersecting lines can create a shape with constant width.

What caused the Challenger disaster?

—The Challenger disaster was caused by a combination of factors, including bad joint design, faulty O-rings, and non-circular rocket boosters.

Why did the O-rings fail?

—The O-rings failed because they did not perform well at the low temperatures during the launch.

What were the main reasons for the explosion?

—The main reasons for the explosion were bad joint design, faulty O-rings, and the non-circular shape of the rocket boosters.

Can solid shapes of constant width have non-circular cross sections?

—Yes, solid shapes of constant width, like the rocket boosters, can have non-circular cross sections.

How can you create a shape of constant width?

—You can create a shape of constant width by drawing three intersecting lines.

00:00This video explores the reasons behind the 1986 Challenger disaster.

01:14The Challenger disaster was caused by a combination of factors, including bad joint design of the solid rocket boosters and faulty O-rings.

01:58The rocket boosters were not actually round, which could have further contributed to the disaster.

02:41Solid shapes of constant width, like the rocket boosters, can have non-circular cross sections.

03:18Drawing three intersecting lines can create a shape with constant width.