Height of a Zero Gravity Parabolic Flight

Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project

Your Name:

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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 tripsto 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 simu lating zero gravity is created within the plane . Th is 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, aro und $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
H eight h in feet

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31,2~~ I

29,3~~ I

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 tin seconds and
they value is the altitude h in feet . Plug these into the model and you will get equations with a,
band c.
Part 1: Write your 3 by 3 system of equations for a, b, and c.

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

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your qua ratte mode I of the data .

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

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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)

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Give some other examples of real-life problems that could be solved using this same strategy? Did
this project change the way you think about how math can be applied to the real world? Write
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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.

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