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 Calculating Range for a Constant Velocity
Subject Area: Mathematics

Grade Level: 7-8

National Mathematics Standards:

  • Mathematics as Problem Solving: Formulate problems from within and outside mathematics.
  • Mathematics as Communication: Use skills of reading, listening, and viewing to interpret and evaluate mathematical ideas.
  • Mathematical Connections: Apply mathematical thinking and modeling to solve problems that arise in other disciplines.
  • Computation and Estimation:
    • Use computation, estimation, and proportions to solve problems.
    • Use estimation to check the reasonableness of results.
  • Patterns and Functions: Analyze functional relationships to explain how a change in one quantity results in a change in another.
  • Algebra:
    • Understand the concepts of variable, expression, and equation.
    • Apply algebraic methods to solve a variety of real-world and mathematical problems.

National Technology Standards:

  • Technology productivity tools: Use content-specific tools, software and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research; apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.
  • Technology communications tools: Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside classroom.
  • Technology research tools: Use content-specific tools, software and simulations (e.g., environmental probe, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research; collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside classroom.
  • Technology problem-solving and decision making tools: Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum; select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems.

Objective:

After reading an explanation from the NASA Web-based "textbook", The Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics, you will use the information in combination with data from other Web sites to solve single variable equations for distance (range), time, and velocity.

The Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics is an on-line "textbook" developed by the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Click on the Beginner's Guide Index to access the list of slides. Open the slide called Range - Constant Velocity. Read the information on this page. Pay special attention to the four forces affecting an airplane. Open the link Unbalanced Forces and observe the animation of how flight is affected by the change in these forces. When these force are equal, the airliner is said to be a Cruising Airliner and velocity is a constant. If we assume the condition of a cruising airliner, then we can calculate velocity, distance (range), and time using the equation given on the top of the Range page. This equation is d = V t .

Assessment:

You, or you and your partner(s), will be evaluated on the feasibility of your answers.

Evaluation:

Using the information presented in the Beginner's Guide in combination with data collected from other Web sites, you will solve equations for the variable of distance (range), time, or velocity when the other two variables are known.

Submitted by: Joseph Dannemiller, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.
Please send any comments to:
Curator: Tom.Benson@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible Official: Kathy.Zona@grc.nasa.gov