Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Building a Parabolic-Trough Collector
Amateurs of alternative energy build a mini parabolic-trough solar energy collector and use it to heat water. Temperature is recorded over a three-minute period and the data is graphed and analyzed. Note that in order to paint aquarium...
Curated OER
Rainbows, Bridges & Weather, Oh My!
Explore how real-world applications can be parabolic in nature and how to find quadratic functions that best fit data. A number of different examples of modeling parabolas are explored including a student scavenger hunt, the exploration...
Curated OER
Curve Ball
Create a Height-Time plot of a bouncing ball using a graphing calculator. Graph height as a function of time and identify the vertex form of a quadratic equation that is generated to describe the ball's motion. Finally, answer questions...
Curated OER
Mirror Curvature
Students investigate parabolas as the shape of a telescopic mirror. In this Algebra I/Algebra II instructional activity, students explore the relationship between the coefficients of a quadratic function and the shape and position of...
Curated OER
Numerical Methods of Integration
Students calculate the area under a curve. In this calculus lesson, students estimate and calculate the area of a curve using simpson's rule and the trapazoidal rule. They review rieman sums and add to it.
Curated OER
Algebra II: Quadratic Functions
Students collect and organize data, make a scatterplot, fit a curve to the appropriate parent function, and interpret the results. Students translate among the various representations of the quadratic function, formulate equations, use a...
Curated OER
Calculus Review
For this calculus worksheet, students figure out the volume of an area under the curve rotated about the x and y axis. There are 2 questions on this worksheet with various sub-section.
Curated OER
Linear and Quadratic Approximations
Students explore a linear, a parabolic, and a log function. In this Algebra II/Pre-calculus lesson students investigate the graph a line, a parabola, and a log function. Students examine the three graphs as they compare and contrast...
Curated OER
Blast's Cosmic Carnival
Students, after analyzing the history of a concentrator, model how a Genesis spacecraft concentrator works by playing a game. In groups of three or four, after being given materials to work with, are challenged to roll the rubber balls...
Curated OER
Telescope #2
Learners investigate parabolas as the shape of a telescopic lens. In this Algebra I/Algebra II lesson, students explore the relationship between the coefficients of a quadratic function and the shape and position of the parabolic graph...
Curated OER
Mathematical Relationships
Students practice graphing a linear equation and a parabolic equation. They work cooperatively to select numbers, including fractions, which they will put into ordered pairs. Students explain their process to the class, discussing what...
Curated OER
Numerical Methods of Integration
Learners review Riemann Sums with rectangles, used to approximate the area under a curve. They listen as the teacher introduces the Trapezoidal Rule to approximate the area under a curve. Students use Simpson's Rule to find the area...
Curated OER
The Center of Mass
Students determine the center of mass of two irregularly shaped objects, determine when the center of mass is inside or outside the boundaries of the object, determine when and/or why an object is stable, balanced, unstable or unbalanced.
EngageNY
Graphing the Sine and Cosine Functions
Doing is more effective than watching. Learners use spaghetti to discover the relationship between the unit circle and the graph of the sine and cosine functions. As they measure lengths on the unit circle and transfer them to a...
Explore Learning
Quadratics: Polynomial Form
Throught this subscription-based sight, learners explore different aspects of the parabola by changing equations from standard to vertex form. Next, find the general form of the vextex based on the values of a, b, and c, and investigate...
EngageNY
The Definition of a Parabola
Put together the pieces and model a parabola. Learners work through several examples to develop an understanding of a parabola graphically and algebraically.
Curated OER
Solar Hot Dog Cooker
Young scholars create a solar hot dog cooker. In this solar energy lesson, students use various materials such as tin foil and cardboard to build a hot dog cooker. Young scholars cook their own hot dogs.
Curated OER
Calculator-Based Lessons Help Examine Real-World Data
Students may determine equations based on graphs and regression models.
Curated OER
Projectile Motion Demonstration
Students dicusss Newton's First Law of Motion. They calculate a projectile moving horizontally and vertically at different intervals. They particpate in an experiment in which the projectile is at an angle. They record and discuss the...
Curated OER
The Standing Long Jump
Students apply the quadratic equation to real-life applications. Students compare sporting events where an object travels through the air and returns to ground to form a parabola. In groups, students perform long jumps. They measure...
Curated OER
Calculating Arc Lengths of Simple Functions-I
In this calculating arc lengths instructional activity, students are given 4 simple functions and they use the Pythagorean Theorem and the basic techniques of calculus to find the arc-length formula in order to find the arc-length.
Curated OER
Kitchen Paraboloids
High schoolers solve quadratic equations and identify functions. In this algebra lesson, students graph parabolas and identify properties describing the shape of the parabola. They find the vertex and rewrite the equation in standard form.
Curated OER
Parabola (Lab Version)
Students develop definition for parabola, explain relationship between properties of the graph of a parabola and its equation, explain how the equation of a parabola can be written in different forms, and solve problems that relate the...
Curated OER
Parabola
Young scholars develop a definition of parabola and explain the relationship between the properties of the graph of a parabola and its equation. They explain how the equation of a parabola can be written in different forms and solve...