The Drop
Suppose a roller coaster ride begins by climbing to a height of 50 meters, and then falling rapidly to a height of 10 meters. If you ignore the effects of friction, then as it falls its velocity will be related to its height above the ground by this equation:
50 - h = v²/19.6
| Subject: Algebra Topics: Expressions and Equations Grades: 6 - 12 Knowledge and Skills: - Can evaluate expressions by substituting values for variables - Can simplify expressions using correct order of operations - Can do basic operations on both sides of an equation in such a way as to preserve the equality |
Download Teacher Guide: The Drop (PDF)
Download Student Activity: The Drop (PDF)
Algebra in the Real World Movie:
Roller Coasters
The heart-pumping exhilaration keeps us coming back time and time again, but it’s the laws of the physics and a great deal of math that keep these thrill rides soaring through the air day after day.
Running time 2:00 minutes.
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