Scribd
Upload
6 views

Modelling Using Quadratic Functions

modelling

Uploaded by

t.rispoli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
6 views

Modelling Using Quadratic Functions

modelling

Uploaded by

t.rispoli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Modelling using quadratic functions.

Option 1: Modelling the vertical position of an object (subject to gravity) over time.

The vertical position of any object (that is subjected mainly to gravity) over time can be
modelled very well using a quadratic function. (e.g. the height of a stone falling off a
cliff over time, the height of a ball that is initially thrown upwards over time)

- Make a video of a ball (tennis ball maybe is the best) whilst is being thrown
vertically upwards until it doesn’t come back to the ground.
- Use your video to estimate three heights and the corresponding time elapsed
from when the ball was thrown.
- Use these three pairs of numbers (time elapsed, height) for the three different
positions as coordinates of points and plot these on a graph.
- Use technology (or analytic methods) to find a quadratic function that links the
height of the ball with the time.
- Validate your model by checking if the heights in the video at different times are
well predicted by th model.

Extensions:

- find other quadratic functions that refer to other throws so that the ball reach
different maximum heights or using objects of different weights.
- compare the quadratic functions you have obtained in the different cases (what
is similar? what is different? can you think of any reasons why there are these
similarities or differences)
- Compare your quadratic function with the equation of motion you can find on
Physics textbooks or online . (what is similar? what is different?, can you think of
any reasons why there are these similarities or differences)
- Find the gradient of the line tangent to the graph at the time of throw (can be
done using technology) to find the speed at which the ball was thrown in each
case.
- Find a function that links the maximum height reached by the object with the
initial speed given to the object.
Option 2 : Modelling the trajectory of an object subject to gravity.

The whole trajectory (vertical position against horizontal position) of any object (that is
mainly subjected to gravity) can be very well modelled using quadratic functions (the
trajectory of a basketball, the trajectory of a skier jumping, the trajectory of a
skateboarder jumping, the water coming out from a fountain etc …)

- Make a video of the trajectory of the object/body you are interested in


- Use your video to estimate three different positions of the object through their
horizontal and vertical distance. (or much better upload your video on -
https://physlets.org/tracker/trackerJS/ and look at the tutorial on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La3H7JywgX0 or read instruction on their
website)

- Use these three pairs of numbers (horizontal distance, vertical distance) for the
three different positions as coordinates of points (on a set of axes you have fixed
and scaled beforehand) and plot these on a graph.
- Use technology (or analytic methods) to find a quadratic function that links the
vertical position of the ball to the horizontal distance of the ball.
- Validate your model by checking if other positions of your ball can be found from
the graph of the quadratic function you used to model the trajectory. (or even
better draw the two graphs on the same coordinate plane to see how close is the
model to the actual trajectory.

Extensions:

- find other quadratic functions that refer to other throws in which the ball reaches
different maximum heights or different maximum horizontal distances
- compare the quadratic functions you have obtained in the different cases (what
is similar? what is different? can you think of any reasons why there are these
similarities or differences)
- Compare your quadratic function with the (cartesian) equation of motion of the
projectile you can find on Physics textbooks or online. (what is similar? what is
different? Can you think of any reasons why there are these similarities or
differences)
- Without throwing the ball, find a quadratic function that could model the
trajectory of a ball that starts at (0,1.60) and reaches a maximum height of
5.00m after having travelled a horizontal distance of 3.00 m. (vertex of the
parabola is (3,5))
- Find the horizontal distance of the ball when it hits the ground
- Repeat the last two tasks considering same starting point (0,1.60) but vertex (3,4)
- In which model will the ball hit the ground further away from the throwing
position? Can you think of a reason why this happens?

You might also like