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Math 1010 Project 2 Parabolic Flight

This document describes a zero gravity parabolic flight experiment. It provides data on the height of the flight path over time during three points of a parabolic flight that produces zero gravity. The goal is to determine the maximum altitude reached using a quadratic model. A system of equations is set up and solved to find the coefficients a, b, and c. The quadratic model is formed and the maximum value is calculated by taking the derivative and setting it equal to zero. The maximum altitude is plotted along with the original data points on a graph of the parabolic flight path.

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90 views

Math 1010 Project 2 Parabolic Flight

This document describes a zero gravity parabolic flight experiment. It provides data on the height of the flight path over time during three points of a parabolic flight that produces zero gravity. The goal is to determine the maximum altitude reached using a quadratic model. A system of equations is set up and solved to find the coefficients a, b, and c. The quadratic model is formed and the maximum value is calculated by taking the derivative and setting it equal to zero. The maximum altitude is plotted along with the original data points on a graph of the parabolic flight path.

Uploaded by

api-219487829
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 5

Michael Sjodin

12/3/2015

Height of a Zero Gravity Parabolic


Flight
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. 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.
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
Height h in feet

2
23645

20
32015

40
33715

To find the quadratic model, you will be plugging the data into the model
2
h=a t +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.
4a+2b+c=23645
400a+20b+c=32015
1600a+40b+c=33715

(1)
(2)
(3)

Part 2: Solve this system. Make sure to show your work.


400a+20b+c=32015
- 4a
-2b -c=-23645
396a+18b=8370
1600a+40b+c=33715
-400a -20b -c=-32015
1200a+20b=1700

(2)-(1)
=(4)
(3)-(2)
=(5)

3960a
+180b=83700
-10800a -180b =-15300
-6840a=68400
a=-10

(4)*10-(5)*9

1200(-10) +20b=1700
-12000+20b=1700
20b=13700
b=685

(Substitute a into (5) and Simplify)

4(-10)+2(685)+c=23645
1340 +c=23645
c=22315

(Substitute a and b into (1) and Simplify)

a=-10
b=684
c=22315

(Simplify)

Part 3: Using your solutions to the system from part 2 to form your quadratic model
of the data.
h = -10t2 + 685t + 22315

Part 4: Find the maximum value of the quadratic function. Make sure to show your
work.
-b / 2a = -685/2(-10) = 34.25
H=-10(34.25)2+685(34.25) +22315
H=-11730.625+23461.25+22315
H=34045.625

(Substitute into formula and Simplify)

Part 5: Sketch the parabola. Label the given data plus the maximum point. A good
way to start labeling your axis is to have the lower left point be (0, 20000)

Time
2
10
20
30
33
34.25
40
50
60

Height (-10(t-34.25)2+34045.625)
23645
28165
32015
33865
34015
34045.625 (Max)
33715
31565
27415

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 taken this class a few times now so I know from doing these projects
that math is applicable in real life. But this reminds me how cool math. And
we can prove these cool ideas. By using math.

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