An application of calculus: optimum parabolic path problem

• Merve Atasever ^[2] ; Mehmet Pakdemirli ^[1]
  1. [1] Celal Bayar University

     Celal Bayar University

     Turquía

     
  2. [2] Şehzade Mehmet Juniory High School, Manisa, Turkey
• Localización: Teaching mathematics and its applications, ISSN 0268-3679, Vol. 28, Nº. 3, 2009, págs. 123-130
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • A practical and technological application of calculus problem is posed to motivate freshman students or juniory high school students. A variable coefficient of friction is used in modelling air friction. The case in which the coefficient of friction is a decreasing function of altitude is considered. The optimum parabolic path for a flying object for which the work done by variable coefficient air friction force is minimum is determined. If a flying object follows the determined path, energy requirement would be less compared with other parabolic or linear paths.