BUNGEE-JUMPING IN THE ATRIUM

Math teacher Greta Mills writes: the Mathematical Modeling Class worked on motion projects recently. They could choose among in-school projects based on Bungee Jumping, Skydiving or The Seconds Pendulum (building a pendulum with a one-second swing).

The assignment: build a physical model, collect data, replicate the results in a computer model, and solve the equations of motion.

In these photos of the bungee-jumping and sky-diving experiments, the paper hanging from the bridge in our atrium is meant to record distances, so students who took videos could measure both distance and velocity.

The emphasis was on the use of "found" objects. Students were asked not to go out and purchase materials; instead, use of ordinary household items was encouraged (note the use of a water bottle and a Co-op bag in two of the groups, as well as rubber bands).