Parabolas
Parabolas in a New Light
View the following video. What properties of the parabola allow it to have the applications that are presented in the video?
[1]"Parabolas in the real world"
Activity: Class Dicussion
What applications for parabolas have we discussed thus far? What properties of the parabola allow it to have these applications?
Parabolas in Motion
On the internet, search for three examples of projectile motion. Answer the following questions for each parabola:
1. What kind of motion is being displayed by the parabola? What object is in motion and why is the projectile path in the shape of a parabola?
2. What is the maximum of the parabola? What does the maximum mean in this real world context of projectile motion?
3. What are the roots of the parabola? What do the roots mean in this real world context of projectile motion?
4. What is the y-intercept of the parabola? What could the y-intercept mean in this real world context of projectile motion?
Reflection
What have you learned about ways that parabolas can occur in real world contexts? What is the relation of a parabola?