Height of a Zero Gravity Parabolic Flight

Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project

Your Name: _Goldie Spira_________________________

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 3 10 20
Height h in feet 28116 29600 29000

To find the quadratic model, you will be plugging the data into the model ℎ = at 2 + 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.

We will plug the data points into the equation: h = at² + bt + c

28116 = a(3)² + b(3) + c ←Plug the first set of data into x and y: 28116 for y and 3 for x.

29600 = a(10)² + b(10) + c ←Plug the second set of data into x and y: 29600 for y and 10 for x.

29000 = a(20)² + b(20) + c ←Plug the third set of data into x and y: 29000 for y and 20 for x.
Part 2: Solve this system. Make sure to show your work.

Step 1: Take two of the three equations from Part 1.

28116 = a(3)² + b(3) + c

29600 = a(10)² + b(10) + c ← Take the first two equations.

Simplify.

28116 = 9a + 3b + c ←Simplify.

29600 = 100a + 10b + c

-1(28116 = 9a + 3b + c) ←Multiply the first equation by -1 so the “c’s” cancel out.

29600 = 100a + 10b + c

-28116 = -9a - 3b - c

29600 = 100a + 10b + c ←The two “c’s” will cancel out.

1484 = 91a + 7b ←This is what we are left with.

Step 2: Take the last two equations from Part 1, set them up, and solve them the same way as Step 1.

29600 = a(10)² + b(10) + c

29000 = a(20)² + b(20) + c ← Last two equations from Part 1.

Simplify.

29600 = 100a + 10b + c ←Simplify.

29000 =400a + 20b + c

-1(29600 = 100a + 10b + c) ←Multiply the first equation by -1 so the “c’s” cancel out.

29000 =400a + 20b + c

-29600 = -100a - 10b - c

 29000 =400a + 20b + c ←The “c’s” cancel out.

-600 = 300a + 10b ←This is what we are left with.

Step 3: Take the two equations that we solved for in Steps 1 and 2.

1484 = 91a + 7b

-600 = 300a + 10b ←Find a way to eliminate either the a or b

10(1484 = 91a + 7b)

-7(-600 = 300a + 10b) ←The “b’s” can be eliminated by multiplying the top equation by 10
and the bottom equation by -7.

14840 = 910a + 70b ←Simplify.

4200 = -2100a - 70b ←The “b’s” cancel out.

19040 = -1190a ←We are left with this, but we can simplify further by dividing to find a.

←This is our solution for a.

A = -16

Step 4: Use the equation from Step 2.

-600 = 300a + 10b ←Plug in the solution for “a” into this equation.

-600 = 300(-16) + 10b ←Simplify.

-600 = -4800 + 10b ←Now solve for b by subtracting -4800 from both sides.

4200 = 10b ←Divide both sides by 10

B = 420 ←This is our solution for b.

Step 5: Use the first equation from Part 1.

28116 = a(3)² + b(3) + c ←Plug in the solutions for “a” and “b” from steps 3 and 4 into this
equation.

28116 = -16(3)² + 420(3) + c ←Simplify.

28116 = -16(9) + 420 (3) +c

28116 = -144 + 1260 + c

 28116 = 1116 + c ←Subtract 1116 from both sides to get the solution for c.

C = 27000

Now A = -16

B = 420

C = 27000

Part 3: Using your solutions to the system from part 2 to form your quadratic model of the data.

Plug the answers for a, b, and c into this equation:

Y = ax² + bx + c

You should get this:

Y = -16x² + 420x + 27000

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

To find the maximum value you need to use the equation from Part 3 and put it into vertex
form.

The equation for vertex form is f(x) = a(x-h)² + K

We get this equation by completing the square.

Y= -16x² + 420x + 27000 ←Now subtract 27000 from both sides.

Y - 27000 = -16x² + 420x ←Now move -16 out.

Y – 27000 = -16(x² + 420x_____) ←Now divide 420 by 2 and then square the answer. Once that is done,
put the number into the blank space.

Y – 27000 = -16(x² + 420x + 44100) ←What you do to one side you must do to the other side, so
you multiply 44100 by 16 and then add that to the left side.

Y – 732600 = -16(x² + 420x + 44100) ←Then you complete the square and move -732600 back to the
right side by addition.

Y = -16(x + 210)² + 732600 ←This is the equation in vertex form. The max value is the
number that is represented by K in the equation above.

Maximum value is 732600

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)

h-Height (in feet): t-Time (in seconds):

Part 6: Reflective Writing. (Must be done individually)

Did this project change the way you think about how math can be applied to the real world?
Write at least 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. Refer to specific parts or aspects of this project in your reflection.
Can you think of any other recreation activities in which math might play an important role?

Math can show how things work and can help to predict items such as time and height. In this instance
with this project, math was able to show how a parabola can express the proper height a plane needs to
reach before it descends. This project can be a real-life application, especially if you are planning a
career in the airline industry. Many do not acknowledge the need for math, but this project shows and
explains the beauty in learning the complexities of math. In addition, when you are working on a math
example, you take it one step at a time until you reach the correct solution. This skill is very applicable to
many aspects in life, showing how to solve problems one at a time. Math is a tricky subject for most
college students, but it certainly makes things easier when you can clearly see the application to life.