1. Height of a Zero Gravity Parabolic Flight
Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Project #2
By Kelsey Evans P.2

2. 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 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 10 to 20 seconds, along the top part of the parabolic flight, an environment simulating zero gravity in 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.
This lab will have you take 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 2 20 40
Height h in feet
23645
32015
33715

3. 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 in seconds and the y value is the altitude in feet. Plug these into the model and you will get equations with a, b, and c. Part 1: write your 3 systems of equations for a, b, and c. We will plug the data points into the equation: h=at^2+bt+c 23645= a(2)^2 + b(2) +c  You plug the first set of data into x and y for y and 2 for x =a(20)^2+b(20)+c  You plug the second set of data into x and y for y and 20 for x =a(40)^2+b(40)+c You plug the third set of data into x and y for y and 40 for x.

4. Part 2: solve this system. Make sure to show your work.
Step 1: Take two out if the three equations from part 1.
23645=a(2)^2+b(2)+c  Take the first to equations.
32015=a(20)^2+b(20)+c
23645=4a+2b+c  Simplify
32015=400a+20b+c
-1(23645=4a+2b+c)  Take the Frist equation an times the whole thing by -1.
32015=400a+20b+c We do this so that the two “c’s” will cancel out.
-23645=-4a-2b-c  The two “c’s” will cancel out
8370=396a+18b This is what we are left with.

5. -32015=-400a-20b-c  The “c’s” cancel out.
Step 2: Take the last two equations from part 1 and set them up and solve them the same way as step 1.
32015=a(20)^2+b(20)+c  Last two equations from part 1.
33715=a(40)^2+b(40)+c
32015=400a+20b+c  simplify
33715=1600a+40b+c
-1(32015=400a+20b+c)  Times the first equation by -1 so that the “c’s” will cancel out.
-32015=-400a-20b-c  The “c’s” cancel out.
1700=1200a+20b  You are left with this equation.

6. Step 3: Take the two equations that we solved for in steps 1 and 2.
8370=396a+18b  Find something that either the a or the b will be able to make the same on both equations.
1700=1200a+20
10(8370=396a+18b)  The “b’s” will be able to cancel each other out so you find a common multiple and
-9(1700=1200a+20) then you multiply both of the b’s by a number to make it the common multiple.
- in this case you would times the top one by 10 and the bottom
on by -9
83700=3960a+180b  simplify
-15300= b  the b’s will cancel out.
68400=2880a  This is what we are left with but it can be simplified down even more.
You divide both sides by 2880.
a=  This is out solution for a

7. Step 4: use the equation that we got from step 2.
1700=1200a+20b  plug the solution for “a” into the a in this equation.
1700=1200(23.75)+20b  Simplify
1700= b  now solve for b
- subtract 28500from both sides.
-26800=20b  Divide both sides by 20 20
b=  This is what b is equal to.

8. Step 5: Take the first equation from part 1
23645= a(2)^2+b(2)+c  now plug the answers for “a” and “b” from steps
3 and 4 into this equation.
23645=23.75(2)^2-1340(2)+c  Simplify
23645=23.75(4)-1340(2)+c
23645= c
23645=-2585+c  add 2585 to both sides
c=26230
Now a=23.75
b= -1340

9. Part 3: Use your solutions to the system from part 2 to from your quadratic model for the data.
Plug the answers for a, b, and c into this equation:
Y=ax^2 +bx +c
You should get this:
Y=23.75x^ x

10. Part 4: Find the maximum value of the quadratic function
Part 4: Find the maximum value of the quadratic function. Make sure to show your work.
To find the maximum value you have 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 to this equation by completing the square.
Y=23.75x^2-1340x  now subtract from both sides
Y-26230=23.75x^2-1340x  now take out from the right side
Y-26230=23.75(x^ x_______)  now divide by 2 and then square the answer. After you do that put that number into the
blank space.
Y-26230=23.75(x^ x )  what ever you do to one side you have to do to the other
so you multiply by and then add that to the
left side.
Y =23.75(x^ x )  Then you complete the square and move
back to the right side.
Y=23.75(x-28.21)^  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

11. Part5: 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 (0,20000)
(20, 32015)
This is the maximum point
(40, 33715)
(2,23645)

12. Part 6: Reflective writing.
Did this project change the way you think about math and how math can be applied to the real world? Write a 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.
I think that this project was a good way to even further my opinion that math is used in the real world. This math project showed that you use math to solve physics problems. This math project showed that math is used to determine how high an airplane must go in order to achieve zero gravity and how long that zero gravity would last. I thought this project was a very interesting way to apply what we have been learning into a problem that people are solving everyday in the real world.