TEACHER NOTES

ISSUES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM

Students may wonder how the curve fitting function works in the software package being used. This could provide motivation for an advanced curve fitting project using the method of least squares.

Prerequisites

The student must be familiar with the classical projectile motion problem (i.e. where the only force on the projectile is due to gravity.)

Time allotment - time management

The student should be able to complete the exercise in a one hour period, assuming that they have technology available to aid them in fitting an equation. The only stumbling block might be the decision as to what type of equation to use as the fit for the data representing lift.

Expectations

Future payoffs

The student will be more aware of not only affects of lift on projectile motion but also of other applications that involve variable interactions commonly ignored in calculus problems. They may get involved in the "what if" aspect of the problem.

The student will gain more familiarity with data and curve fitting.

Extensions

Have students come up with a method for deciding whose curve offers the best fit.

References and Sources

The data supplied for the effects of lift experiment were taken from a graph comparing the launch angle of a golf ball and the range, or horizontal distance. The initial velocity was given as 58 m/sec. The reference for the golf ball info is: P. W. Bearman and J. K. Harvey, Golf Ball Aerodynamics, Selected Reprints of Physics of Sports, pp. 49-59.