How high will it fly? Pairs build straw rockets and launch them at different angles and determine the height and horizontal distance of the flight path. Teams make conjectures about how the angle affects the measured distances and use GeoGebra to test the conjectures. Using the GeogGebra equations, individuals calculate the maximum height and the horizontal distances of the flights, and then create class presentations and write reflections summarizing the findings and equations.

Concepts

parabolas, maximums, quadratic functions, quadratic equations, angle of elevation, rockets, vertex, vertex form of an equation, quadratic formula, completing the square

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Work with the physics teacher to explain how changes in the force and angle affect the parameters of the quadratic function
• Create a measurement scale on the wall to make it easier for pupils to estimate the height

Classroom Considerations

• Assumes students are comfortable with GeoGebra

Pros

• Includes links to formatted GeoGebra files
• Contains detailed instructions with pictures how to build the rockets
• Provides a rubric for scoring the complete task

Cons

• None

Common Core

MP1 MP4 HSA-SSE.B.3.b HSA-CED.A.2 HSA-REI.B.4.b HSF-IF.C.7.a