math in the news: 7/18/11
DESCRIPTION
In this issue of Math in the News, we look at the mechanics of space travel, as we bid a fond farewell to the Space Shuttle Atlantis. For more math media resources, go to http://www.media4math.comTRANSCRIPT
7/18/11
Space Travel
• There are a number of moving parts when it comes to launching a spacecra7.
Space Travel
• In this anima:on, no:ce the path that the rocket takes.
Space Travel
• The movement of the Shu=le is a combina:on of a sideways mo:on and a ver:cal mo:on.
Space Travel
• Where does the Shu=le's sideways mo:on come from?
Space Travel
• It's a result of the Earth's rota:on.
Space Travel
• As the Earth rotates about its axis, the Shu=le moves along, too.
Space Travel
• At any point in its rota:on the sideways speed vector is perpendicular to the Earth's surface.
Space Travel
• At li7off, the the Shu=le has what becomes a sideways speed.
Space Travel
• The horizontal and ver:cal components of mo:on can each be represented by parametric equa:ons.
Space Travel
• This pair of parametric equa:ons describes the horizontal, x(t), mo:on, and the ver:cal, y(t), mo:on. Note the parabolic shape of the graph.
Space Travel
• The parametric equa:ons account for the sideways, linear, mo:on and the ver:cal, quadra:c, mo:on of the shu=le.