Water Fountain Project

Materials: Paper, Pen, Meter Stick

Directions:

With your partner, go to a water fountain in the building assigned to you. Using the right side of the frame as your y-axis and the bottom of the wall as your x-axis, find an equation of the parabolic curve formed by the water while the fountain is on. Take a picture of the fountain from a distance and a close-up with the fountain turned on. Make all measurements in inches.

Rules:

You must be QUIET while making your measurements. DO NOT disrupt any classes in the area where you are. Return to class after taking the measurements. You will compute the equation of the parabola when you return.

Final Product – due on :

Each pair must submit a 8.5” x 11” or 12”x12” poster that contains the following:

·  A GREAT, original title

·  A picture of the fountain from a distance

·  A picture of the fountain turned on (nothing labeled)

·  A picture of the fountain turned on showing the parabolic curve – label the vertex and two other points

·  The equation of the parabola in vertex form

·  The equation of the parabola in standard form

·  A screen shot of the parabola equation from the graphing calculator

·  A combined shot of the parabola superimposed over the water fountain

·  Ciritical Thinking Questions answered & explanation of how you got the answers

·  Projects may be mounted onto construction or decorative paper

Make the posters creative, unique and exciting to look at. They will be graded on creativity and accuracy. On the back of the poster, list the names of both people in the group and the location of the water fountain.


Name ______Name ______

REMEMBER TO MEASURE IN INCHES!!

Data taken from ______water fountain:

location

Find the distance from…

1. the floor to the top of fountain “box” ______

2. the floor to hole in water spout ______

3. the right side of the fountain to center of the water spout hole ______

4. the right side of the fountain to where the water hits the fountain

(assuming you don’t drink the water) ______

5. the fountain “box” to the highest point of the water ______

6. the floor to highest point of water ______

7. the right side of the fountain highest point of the water ______

Label the following picture with the appropriate measurements or points.


Equation of the parabola in vertex form:

Equation the parabola in standard form:

Critical Thinking Questions:

1.  Suppose you are an advocate fighting for equality. You want to develop a water fountain for left handed people. What would the standard form for the equation be if measurements stayed the same?

(NOTE: the x-axis is on the left of the fountain.)

2.  Tradition side-by-side water fountains have the dimensions shown below. Suppose you develop a water fountain for an elementary school that has a lot of short people. If you want the top of the fountain to be at 25 inches, what would be the vertex form of the equation of the fountain if all other dimensions remained the same?


Water Fountain Rubric NAME ______

NAME ______

Date Turned In ______Date Due ______

Early Grade ______Final Grade ______

Possible Points for each part / Points earned
Title/Name of project
Must be original! (3 points)
Picture of water fountain from a distance
(5 points)
Picture of water fountain with the fountain turned on
(5 points)
Picture of water fountain with the fountain turned on and with vertex and two other points labeled on picture
“plot” the points
label the points
points “appropriately located” (9 points)
Equation of water in vertex form
correct coefficient in front
correct vertex in formula (10 points)
Equation of water in standard form
(10 points)
Screen shot of calculator graph
(5 points)
Combined shot of fountain with screen shot
(5 points)
“Back of project”: Names of group members
(4 points)
“Back of project”: What each person in group did
(4 points)
“Back of project”: Location of water fountain
(4 points)
Details Page
(4 points)
Critical Thinking Question #1
answered
explained (12 points)
Critical Thinking Question #2
answered
explained (12 points)
Creativity
(4 points)
Turning in this score sheet
(4 points)
TOTAL