Model Rockets & Trigonometry Project

Strand 4: Geometry & Measurement
Concept 1: Geometric Properties
PO 11: Solve problems using the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios of the acute angles of a right triangle.

In geometry, students are working on finishing their model rockets, which we will hopefully launch before spring break.  Students will be using concepts we are learning about basic trig ratios, in order to measure the angle of elavation for their rocket, and calculating the approximate altitude that it reaches prior to ejecting the parachute.

This year, we are not using pre-made rocket kits, so it has been challenging to build the engine mounts to fit the various tubes the students are using.  We have aluminum foil, paper towel, and wrapping paper rolls as the body tubes.

Coasters 2010-2011

Click a coaster below to see the specs:

Dune                     Silver Bullet

Twittle Master        Purple Tiger

Black Widow          Armageddon

Dominator              Tornado

Goliath                   Comanche

Death Trap             Outlaw

World's Longest Basketball Shot

In geometry, we are learning about the Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangles.  Students are working on a special project to find an application of one of these concepts and write a geometry problem about it.  Never challenging the students to do something I wouldn't want to do myself, I have come up with the following example and video.  I saw this video last summer on Winners Bracket.  Not sure how far it made it, but it is pretty cool.

Shot by Evan Sellers off of the Vulcan Monument. Estimated height of shot is 130 feet, estimated distance of hoop is about 165 feet.  What is the distance from the monument to the rim? 

Circle of Friends

Our next Meeting is on Monday, March 7th, a scavenger hunt (Amazing Race Style) around campus.

See brochure for more information on Circle of Friends. (click to make larger)

Dune

Dune offers a steep initial drop into a covered loop, adding to rider suspense.  Riders speed past the themed off-road vehicles and finish with a jump and landing.

Designers: Jay & Austin

Cost to Build: $1,955 (3rd / 12)

Length: 355 cm (ranked 10th / 12)

Height: 112 cm (ranked 5th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.28 (ranked 7th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 108 cm (ranked 11th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 25.5 cm (ranked 9th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 89.3 mph (ranked 4th / 12)

Silver Bullet

Silver Bullet is a standard coaster, with a steep drop into a smooth loop.  Riders will enjoy the speed, but the thrill is not as high as other coasters.

Designers: Dameron & Cassie

Cost to Build: $460 (12th / 12 - LEAST EXPENSIVE)

Length: 396 cm (ranked 6th / 12)

Height: 87 cm (ranked 12th / 12 - SHORTEST)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.16 (ranked 8th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 110 cm (ranked 10th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 28 cm (ranked 4th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 88.6 mph (ranked 5th / 12)

Twittle Master

Despite the strange name, Twittle Master is a good basic coaster.  Riders will enjoy a steep drop, a quick loop, and a final up/down hill into a straight ending.

Designers: Maddox, Leila, & Orlando

Cost to Build: $1,835 (4th / 12)

Length: 378 cm (ranked 8th / 12)

Height: 95 cm (ranked 10th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.47 (ranked 4th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 118 cm (ranked 8th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 27.5 cm (ranked 5th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 84 mph (ranked 7th / 12)

Purple Tiger

Purple Tiger gives riders an exciting short drop into a tight and high loop.  The track then descends rapidly into the second larger loop.  This is an experience that can't be missed.

Designers: TJ, Wyverlee, & Abi

Cost to Build: $2,835 (2nd / 12)

Length: 459 cm (ranked 4th / 12)

Height: 122 cm (ranked 3rd / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.13 (ranked 9th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 137 cm (ranked 4th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 29.3 cm (ranked 3rd / 12)

Avg. Speed: 78.2 mph (ranked 9th / 12)

Black Widow

Black Widow offers riders an intense experience, with two overlapping loops, and an ending tunnel.  Riders enjoy the dizzying loops and speedy drops. 

Designers: Ricky, Tre, & Kevin

Cost to Build: $1,065 (9th / 12)

Length: 446 cm (ranked 5th / 12)

Height: 96 cm (ranked 8th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.49 (ranked 3rd / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 134 cm (ranked 6th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 26.3 cm (ranked 8th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 67.5 mph (ranked 11th / 12)



Armageddon

Armageddon has the longest continuous drop and the highest average speed of all of the competing coasters.  Riders start out high and rapidly descend to a nauseating loop.  If you enjoy speed and a gut wrenching free-fall, this ride is for you.  Though it's not the end of the world, the designers hope you will fight your way back in line for a second 'battle'.

Designers: Quentine & Willy

Cost to Build: $1,700 (5th / 12)

Length: 355 cm (ranked 10th / 12)

Height: 149 cm (ranked 2nd / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.37 (ranked 6th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 186 cm (ranked 1st / 12 - LONGEST)

Avg. Loop Size: 26.5 cm (ranked 6th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 89.7 mph (ranked 1st / 12 - FASTEST)

Dominator

Dominator offers riders an extremely long initial drop, leading into the largest loop of all the coasters.  The track then winds into a 360 degree up and down turn, letting riders know that there is more than a drop and a loop to this ride.

Designers: Kyle & Johnny

Cost to Build: $925 (11th / 12)

Length: 484 cm (ranked 3rd / 12)

Height: 107 cm (ranked 7th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -.60 (ranked 12th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 182 cm (ranked 2nd / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 31.5 cm (ranked 1st / 12 - LARGEST)

Avg. Speed: 79.1 mph (ranked 8th / 12)

Tornado

This was the most expensive coaster to build, but it is sure to please any rider.  The tornado offers a dizzying 1080 degree funnel, connecting riders from the steepest drop into the highest loop, down to the culmination of the ride, a long three track jump.

Designers: Alex, Austin, & Taylor

Cost to Build: $4,000 (1st / 12 - MOST EXPENSIVE)

Length: 732 cm (ranked 1st / 12 - LONGEST)

Height: 160 cm (ranked 1st / 12 - TALLEST)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -3.14 (ranked 1st / 12 - STEEPEST)

Total Length of Drops: 100 cm (ranked 12th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 26.5 cm (ranked 6th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 46.8 mph (ranked 12th / 12)

Goliath

Goliath is the only coaster featuring three loops.  Riders are taken down a steep drop, where they hit the first and largest loop.  Their descent continues into two overlapping loops.  The ride ends with a blast through a tunnel and a victorious ending.  If you are looking for an intense and exciting ride, this giant coaster is one to conquer.

Designers: Johnathan & Caitlin

Cost to Build: $1,375 (6th / 12)

Length: 589 cm (ranked 2nd / 12)

Height: 118 cm (ranked 4th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.56 (ranked 2nd / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 135 cm (ranked 5th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 30.2 cm (ranked 2nd / 12)

Avg. Speed: 85.7 mph (ranked 6th / 12)

Comanche

Comanche offers riders and exciting initial drop, followed by an over the edge view of the wild ride they are about to experience.  The loop comes late in the ride, building excitiment and anticipation, as the coaster picks up speed.

Designers: Ricky & Matthew

Cost to Build: $1,310 (7th / 12)

Length: 351 cm (ranked 12th / 12)

Height: 95 cm (ranked 10th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -.80 (ranked 11th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 130 cm (ranked 7th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 22.5 cm (ranked 12th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 72.8 mph (ranked 10th / 12)

Death Trap

Despite it's name, Death Trap is a safe ride, with extreme speed.  Riders will take on a steep drop, which throws them immediately into a loop.  Enjoy the speed on the long straight ending.

Designers: Justin, Danny, and Ethan

Cost to Build: $1,025 (10th / 12)

Length: 375 cm (ranked 9th / 12)

Height: 96 cm (ranked 8th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -1.39 (ranked 5th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 114 cm (ranked 9th / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 25.5 cm (ranked 9th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 89.4 mph (ranked 3rd / 12)

Outlaw

The Outlaw is one of the fastest coasters this year, with long drops and a very unique ending.  Defying the laws of gravity, this coaster is sure to please riders who enjoy speed in their coaster.

Designers: Devin, Justin, & Austin

Cost to Build: $1,210 (8th / 12)

Length: 396 cm (ranked 6th / 12)

Height: 111 cm (ranked 6th / 12)

Avg. Slope of Drops: -.084 (ranked 10th / 12)

Total Length of Drops: 150 cm (ranked 3rd / 12)

Avg. Loop Size: 25 cm (ranked 11th / 12)

Avg. Speed: 89.5 mph (ranked 2nd / 12)

Coaster Rankings - Day 3

	Day 3	Ride Profit	Food Profit	Drink Profit	Total Profit
1	Death Trap	$374.00	$116.00	$93.00	$583.00
2	Goliath	$390.00	$119.00	$60.00	$569.00
3	Armageddon	$445.00	$67.50	$56.25	$568.75
4	Dominator	$405.00	$85.00	$71.00	$561.00
5	Comanche	$290.00	$90.00	$72.00	$452.00
6	Silver Bullet	$304.00	$78.00	$49.00	$431.00
7	Purple Tiger	$306.00	$78.00	$43.00	$427.00
8	Outlaw	$249.25	$92.00	$68.75	$410.00
9	Tornado	$256.00	$97.50	$52.00	$405.50
10	Black Widow	$208.00	$126.00	$64.50	$398.50
11	Dune	$244.00	$70.50	$54.00	$368.50
12	Twittle Master	$237.50	$56.00	$69.00	$362.50

Needed Notebooks & Optional Supplies

This year, each student will need a composition notebook. It needs to have the graph paper in it, not regular composition lines. They formerly called these Quad Ruled, but I saw some at Staples yesterday and they have changed the name to Graph Ruled or Grid Ruled. It doesn't matter what the cover looks like, because students will be making their own covers the first week of school.

I suggested in the letter that each student bring in TWO of these notebooks. We will use one per semester and I will keep the second notebook in storage with their name on it, so that they have it for second semester (or if they lose their first one and need a backup).

Staples currently has these notebooks for 1.99. You may be able to find a better deal. I did not see these notebooks at Wal Mart. If finding/purchasing these notebooks is not possible for you, just send me a note or e-mail and I will have your student covered. I just know that I do not have the funds to provide 60+ students with 2 notebooks each ($240), so I was hoping parents could help out with this. These notebooks are also available at the school store (The Spot) once school starts, but will be wither $1.50 or $2.00 and supplies are limited.

No other supplies are needed for my class by the individual student. You will see in my mailed out letter, that I included a list of supplies that my classes need to create their student notebooks on a daily basis. If any parents are able to help out by picking up any of these supplies, it will be very helpful as well.

- Glue sticks

- Reams (500 sheets) of COLORED copy paper (light or bright colors) - $8 at Staples

- Colored Pencils

- Regular wood pencils

Recycle Races 2010

Here is the final race tournament video from May 2010 Recycle Races. Can't wait until next April for Recycle Races 2011.

NEW students, this is a special project that all of my math classes do at the end of the semester. You get to build a race car out of recycled material and we race daily, as we apply various math concepts learned over the semester.

Solar Cookers

In December 2009, students had the opportunity to explore the quadratic equation and parabolas in an unusual way. After learning how to factor out and graph quadratic equations, they designed and built parabolic solar cookers. They identified what they felt to be the perfect equation for a parabola that would reflect the Sun’s rays, as they attempted to roast a marshmallow.

The solar cookers were built with recycled boxes, cardboard, aluminum foil, and a few other odds and ends. Students came up with a variety of designs, from a parabola that slides across an arch in the box, to a rotisserie style parabola for fast adjustment and alignment to wherever the Sun might be. The teams applied creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills as they attempted to build their curved parabolas while maintaining a smooth reflective surface (to avoid dispersed light).

It was a cold, windy day when the solar cookers were finally put to the test. The outside temperature was 61o degrees while the 2nd period students carefully adjusted their cookers to the low-lying sun. While no marshmallows ended up roasting, the winning solar cooker reached an internal temperature of 93o at the focus point. Mr. Coots’ 7th period class benefited from a 74o temperature outside, and several solar cookers passed 110o after 30 minutes in the Sun.