This activity is intended to supplement Calculus, Chapter 3, Lesson 4.
Time Required: 40 minutes
In this activity, students will observe a simulation of a record breaking bungee jump, consider a mathematical model of the height as a function of time, and take the derivative to determine points of interest like the minimum height, maximum velocity, acceleration, and maximum jerk. Students will algebraically, numerically, graphically and verbally investigate higher order derivatives.
Topic: Higher order derivatives
Interpret the derivative in context of velocity, speed, and acceleration
Corresponding characteristics of the graph of
Teacher Preparation and Notes
Students will need to know that the derivative of position is velocity, and the derivative of velocity is acceleration. For the questions at the end, students are expected to be familiar with the concept of the definite integral. The Product Rule using exponential and trigonometric functions is also utilized.
The data for the helicopter bungee jump problem is from Bungee Consultants International (http://www.bungeeconsultants.com/stuntengineering-stuntcredits.htm).
Part 1 – Bungee Jump
This activity begins by describing the record breaking bungee jump. Students enter a parametric graph of the situation in their graphing calculators. If students have trouble entering the parametric equations, then direct them to change the calculator mode to parametric (press MODE and change Graph to 2:PARAMETRIC).
On the student worksheet, students use the Product Rule to take the first and second derivatives. The derivatives can be verified on the HOME screen, but it is such a long function that it wouldn’t fit on the screen well. To begin, some students may find it helpful for organizational purposes to use CAS to solve for .
The questions are designed to develop student’s proficiency with CAS functionality and deepen understanding of the connection between .
When students are asked to enter the velocity, acceleration, and jerk functions into , and , they can use the HOME screen to find the derivatives of the position function and to store the functions, as shown to the right. Students can arrow up to an answer and press ENTER to copy an answer into the entry line.
For Question 6, many compare and contrast discoveries can be made. Question 7 points out the limitations of a mathematical model. When the jumper is in freefall for first 4 seconds or so, the only acceleration should be .
- It is expected that students will say or . Solving when the first derivative equals zero for a position-time graph gives the time when the velocity is zero. This will give the maximum or minimum position.
when , 21.2 s, and 36.9 s
when . The speed is 619.98 ft/s. (Speed is scalar and should not be negative.)
- When the height is a minimum, the velocity graph is zero. The velocity in ft/s graph is identical to the velocity in mph except for the scale. The , and graphs all have a similar damped shape.
- Maximum acceleration is about
- Point of infection of is (21.218, 4684.477).
Part 2 – Graphically Examine Another Situation
To test for understanding of calculus concepts, questions relating a graph of the derivative to the original function are effective. Students do not need to know the Power Rule for integration to do the first question. They do need to understand the concept of the integral and its notation. If students know how to find the area of a triangle, they can find this integral.
The only question in this series that uses the function is Question 12—using calculus to find when is a maximum.
For further thought and discussion
- Verify that is continuous.
- Prove that is differentiable.
Students will relate concavity with the graphs in Question 13. Remind students that they are finding when the graph of is concave up, not as shown in the graph on the student worksheet. Explaining answers “using calculus” is important to stress. Often, students justify that a function is increasing by saying “it is going up.” They should avoid the use of “it.” For example, “the derivative is positive, so the function is increasing.”
Question 14 asks when is the function s decreasing and to explain. This occurs when . Since and is negative between 0 and 1, that is the solution.
For further thought and discussion
- When is increasing?
- When is concave up?
- When is concave down?
- Max occurs when . Max occurs when . So .
when , i.e., when the slope of the graph is positive or when .