QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

MICROGRAVITY

VERTICALMOTION

WHAT DO THESE THREE THINGSHAVE IN COMMON?

Stay tuned and find out!!

Why do we need to learn this math stuff, anyway???

Before we get started, take a look at this 13-minute video from NASA and see how the astronauts practice. While you watch, keep these questions in mind:

1. What is microgravity?

2.Why is the KC-135 Aircraft called the “Vomit Comet”?

3.Why are these people floating around in the aircraft?

http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/video/RGSFOP_video.mpg

Take a few minutes to talk about the three questions.

1. What is microgravity?

“micro” means small. Microgravity is reduced gravity. It can be created when an abject is in a falling state, like when the astronauts are orbiting (“falling around”) the earth.

Take a few minutes to talk about the three questions.

2. Why is the KC-135 aircraft called the “Vomit Comet”?

That’s an easy one! Some people experience queasiness on the first

few parabolas. Remember the student in the video who said that everyone had airsick bags in the

pockets of their flight suits – just in case? . . . . . (oops!)

Take a few minutes to talk about the three questions.

3. Why are these people floating around in the aircraft?

When the aircraft reaches the top of the parabolic arc and goes into a free-fall state, the people inside are falling at the same rate. They are experiencing “microgravity.”

Can we experience moments of weightless here on the surface of the earth?

YOU BET WE CAN !!

Let’s meet some of the Residents of Mathland here at Palm Beach Gardens High School (Go Gators!). Then, click on the video clips of the students as they demonstrate examples of microgravity.

Meet the Residents ofMATH LAND

Block 2Integrated Math III

Block 4Integrated Math III

Pogo Madness

More Pogo Madness

Bouncing Tennis Balls

. . . . And more bouncing balls

Water balloons? In Math Class??

Let’s try that again. . . . .

And now, a word from our students