Activity Overview
Teacher will simulate a Bungee Jumper and have students predict when a Jumper would hit the ground.
Before the Activity
If you are using the TI-Navigator System with the TI-73 you will need the attached .pdf file.
Rig a hook in the ceiling for the rubber bands to be placed upon.
Wrap the doll's legs together with a rubber band or string, leaving a loop available to add more bands.
Set up a tape measure near a wall to record the falling distance.
Be sure you use a sturdy ladder!
During the Activity
Attach 3 rubber bands to the doll, and place one of them on the hook in the ceiling.
Let the doll fall and record its falling distance.
Then attach 4,5, and then 10 rubber bands and repeat the procedure.
Record the information as a table of values, where the number of bands is the independent variable and the falling distance is the dependent variable.
After the Activity
After recording the data, set it up as 2 lists for the graphing activity center in TI-Navigator™.
Set up your axis to accept all data.
Ask students to come up with a "best-fit" or regression equation that best describes the data points.
When you, as a class have settled upon an appropriate equation, ask them to figure out how many rubber bands it would take for the doll to reach the ground.