Activity Detail
If you are using a TI-73, TI-83, TI-84 or TI-89, there may be particular math or science applications you will need to download to use certain activities. If you are using TI-Nspire technology, please update your TI-Nspire handheld operating system or computer software to view the latest activities. The latest TI-Nspire operating system was released in June 2009.
Browse by Subject Submit Activity Saved Activities Advanced Search
  


add to saved activities



print this activity
 
Curve Ball - Adventure 12
 


Activity Overview

In this adventure , students will make a Height-Time plot of a bouncing ball using the CBR 2™. They graph height as a function of time. They identify and understand the vertex form of a quadratic equation that is generated to describe the ball?s motion.

Before the Activity

  • Connect CBR 2 to the calculator.
  • Launch the CBL /CBR 2™ App
  • Start the Ranger program and select the Ball Bounce application
  • Transfer files to the student calculators using the TI-Navigator™  "send to class" feature
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 78 - 79 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Adventure procedures:
    Collect Data:
  • Set up the CBR 2 at shoulder height with a ball 0.5 meters directly below it
  • Release the ball and collect ball bounce height data
  • Plot time versus distance data
  • Examine any one bounce, the plot has a parabolic shape
  • Explore the quadratic equation that describes this motion is quadratic:y = A(x - H)2 + K where A affects the width of the parabola and (H, K) is the vertex of the parabola. In this activity, the control variable, x, represents time and y represents height.
  • Identify the vertex (H, K) of the first complete bounce and substitute the values in the equation
  • Use different values of A in the equation and view the graph formed
  • Find the value of A that best fits bounce data and write the equation of a parabolic ball bounce
  • Find the equation for the second bounce
  • Explore how as values of A increases, the parabola gets narrower and as A decreases, the parabola gets wider
  • Value of A for a quadratic equation of a bouncing ball is constant


    • TI-Navigator activity:
  • Load the Arch.act activity settings file
  • Have students submit quadratic equations that best fit the arch

    		After the Activity

    		Students analyze the results and answer the questions in the worksheet

    Review student results:
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




    view standards alignment
    view textbook alignment

    Subject Area:
    Science : Physical Science : Newton's Laws
    Math : Algebra I : Quadratic Functions

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    45 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-73 Explorer™, TI-Navigator™

    Apps:
    TI-CBL™/CBR™ App

    Software:
    TI Connect™

    Accessories:
    CBR™/CBR 2™, TI Connectivity Cable, Unit-to-Unit link cables

    Other:
    This is Adventure 12 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Adventures in Data Collection with TI-73 Explorer™.

    The following materials are required for this activity:

  • A bouncing ball


    • Report an issue with this activity