Zero Gravity Reflection Project

By: Kjirstin Patterick

For the Zero Gravity Project I was able to develop a mathematical model for a parabolic

path of which a plane traveled. In order to find the entire mathematical model of a parabolic

flight I needed to do it in three steps. The first step was to find a system of equations so that I

could then find the variables that would help me create my model. So to do this I took the data or

height and time and plugged it into the quadratic equation. And then put all three equations I got

in a matrices x3 and found the solutions of all the variables, a, b and c. For step two I found the

solution of the system of equations by using the quadratic equation. I also used the quadratic

equation to find the maximum height the plane reached which is the vertex (max-height of the

plane) and y-intercept. Next for the last step I was able to graph the parabola by plotting the

points I got on the graph to see the entire parabola of the plane.

From completing this project it was really able to open my eyes up about how math can

be used in the real world. Because just like we tested the parabola of an airplane we can use a

parabola to better understand many real life examples such as throwing a ball, launching a bottle

rocket and many things. This could be very helpful in many engineering fields. By knowing how

to do this with other real world examples it could be very beneficial to people in their life.

An example I thought of that you could apply the quadratic function would be a roller

coaster. You could see what is the highest point of the rollercoaster, the lowest point and how fast

it can drop from the highest point to the lowest.

 If I was the pilot of a flight crew I would tell them that they would need to stay seated

during the descent the parabolic path because of the effects of zero gravity they would

experience.

After completing this assignment my option of the usefulness of math did change.

Growing up I always thought math was not very useful and only needed to help me pass school.

But after this assignment and others I’ve done that help you related math to the real world I am

able to really see the usefulness of math and how it can be used everyday. People can use math to

help them solve simple equations or more complex ones like how fast a rollercoaster goes or how

one can redesign a house and order carpet at the right lengths and so on.