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This document describes a group project to model the height of an aircraft during a zero-gravity parabolic flight. Students are given data points for height at different times during the parabolic path and asked to: 1) Write a system of equations to model the data with a quadratic function. 2) Solve the system of equations to determine the coefficients for the quadratic model. 3) Use the coefficients to write the quadratic model. 4) Find the maximum height by taking the derivative of the quadratic model. 5) Sketch the parabolic flight path with the data points and maximum point labeled.

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44 views4 pages

Portfolio

This document describes a group project to model the height of an aircraft during a zero-gravity parabolic flight. Students are given data points for height at different times during the parabolic path and asked to: 1) Write a system of equations to model the data with a quadratic function. 2) Solve the system of equations to determine the coefficients for the quadratic model. 3) Use the coefficients to write the quadratic model. 4) Find the maximum height by taking the derivative of the quadratic model. 5) Sketch the parabolic flight path with the data points and maximum point labeled.

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api-356453809
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Height of a Zero Gravity Parabolic Flight

Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project

Your Name: _Angela Sakallariou_

Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to float


weightless in space? One way to try it out is to fly on a special
aircraft that astronauts use to train for their trips to space.
Both NASA and the Russian Space Agency have been flying
these for years. The way this is accomplished is to fly to a high
altitude, drop down to gain speed, and then start a large
parabolic path up in the sky. For a time ranging from 10 to 20 seconds, along the top part of the
parabolic flight, an environment simulating zero gravity is created within the plane. This effect can
cause some nausea in the participants, giving rise to the name Vomit Comet, the plane used by NASA
for zero-G parabolic training flights. Currently there is a private company that will sell you a zero-G ride,
though it is a bit expensive, around $5000.

This lab will have you take a look at the parabolic path to try to determine the maximum altitude the
plane reaches. First, you will work with data given about the parabola to come up with a quadratic
model for the flight. Then you will work to find the maximum value of the model. Now for the data:

Height of a Zero-G Flight t Seconds After


Starting a Parabolic Flight Path
Time t in seconds 2 10 20
Height h in feet 30,506 31,250 29,300

To find the quadratic model, you will be plugging the data into the model = at + bt + c.
The data points given are just like x and y values, where the x value is the time t in seconds and
the y value is the altitude h in feet. Plug these into the model and you will get equations with a,
b and c.

Part 1: Write your 3 by 3 system of equations for a, b, and c.


1- 4a+2b+c = 30506
2- 100a+10b+c = 31250
3- 400a+20b+c = 29300
Part 2: Solve this system. Make sure to show your work.

Step 1: 4a+2b+c = 30506

-4a-2b-c =-30506

+100a+10b+c=31250

96a+8b = 744

Step 2: 100a+10b+c =31250

-100a-10b-c = -31250

+ 400a+20b+c = 29300

300a+10b = -1950

Step 3: 96a+8b = 744 and 300a+10b = -1950 solve for a

(-10) 96a+8b = 744 -960a-80b = -7440

(8)300a+10b = -1950 + 2400a+80b = -15600

1440a = -23040

divide -23040/1440

A = -16

Step 4: 96a+8b = 744 Then substitute A= -16 into equation 96(-16)+8b=744 = -1536+86= 744

Add 1536 to both sides -1536 +1536 +8b = 744+1536 8b = 2280 divide 2280/8

B= 285

Step 5: 4a +2b+c = 30506 Then substitute A = -16 and B = 285 into equation

4(-16) +2(285) +c=30506

-64 + 570+c= 30506

506 -506 + c = 30506 -506

C= 30,000

Answer: (-16,285,30,000)
Part 3: Using your solutions to the system from part 2 to form your quadratic model of the data.

F(x) = -16x2 +285x+30,000=0

Part 4: Find the maximum value of the quadratic function. Make sure to show your work.

F(x) = -16x2 +285x+30,000=0

T= -b/2a -285/-32 = 9 seconds

-16(9)2 +285(9) +30,000

-1296+2565+30,000 = 31,269

Maximum height of 31,269 ft. will occur at 9 seconds.


Part 5: Sketch the parabola. Label the given data plus the maximum point. A good way to start labeling
your axes is to have the lower left point be (0, 25000)

35,000ft

9sec,31,269ft

10sec,31,250ft
2sec,30,506ft
30,00ft
20sec,29,300ft

5sec 10sec 20 sec 25sec

Part 6: Reflective Writing.

Did this project change the way you think about how math can be applied to the real world?
Write one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. If this project did not change the
way you think, write how this project gave further evidence to support your existing opinion
about applying math. Be specific.

I have a challenging time seeing the real world thru Math. I do understand for most unknown
questions, there seems to be a formula, concept or an equation that answers and proves the
unknown questions, which derives from math. I remember during class the teacher was referencing
the word Composite in relationship to numbers and real life. I remember thinking 2 or more materials
generally make up a composite, not connecting the two until it dawned on me his explanation of
Composite numbers, a whole number that can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 or itself. I
made the connection of it being specific materials being combined. I must add that graphing is what
I would call extra icing on a cake, unnecessary. The work has already been done and proven, why
need a graph.

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