Peer reviewed
Direct linkERIC Number: EJ852599
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0268-3679
EISSN: N/A
An Application of Calculus: Optimum Parabolic Path Problem
Atasever, Merve; Pakdemirli, Mehmet; Yurtsever, Hasan Ali
Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications: An International Journal of the IMA, v28 n3 p123-130 Sep 2009
A practical and technological application of calculus problem is posed to motivate freshman students or junior high school students. A variable coefficient of friction is used in modelling air friction. The case in which the coefficient of friction is a decreasing function of altitude is considered. The optimum parabolic path for a flying object for which the work done by variable coefficient air friction force is minimum is determined. If a flying object follows the determined path, energy requirement would be less compared with other parabolic or linear paths.
Descriptors: Junior High Schools, Calculus, Junior High School Students, Student Motivation, Mathematical Concepts, Problem Solving
Oxford University Press. Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, UK. Tel: +44-1865-353907; Fax: +44-1865-353485; e-mail: jnls.cust.serv@oxfordjournals.org; Web site: http://teamat.oxfordjournals.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
