Cool Pre-Calculus Stuff
Our knowledge of parabolas made this animation possible.
It turns out that the relationship between the vertical position of
an object and time is parabolic. The equation for the height of a
particle starting at rest from height h, is y-h = a*t^2. In physics,
we usually set a = gravity = -9.8m/sec^2.
Thus you can simply set 'a' equal to whatever gravity value you wish,
choose an initial height h, and plot the height y of a falling particle
over whatever time interval you want. That's how this animation was
created.
The software I use is
POV-Ray 3.0 for Windows
Parabolas in the sky.
- This a photo I took at the '97 Davis 4th of July fireworks show.
It's another example of parabolic motion.
Other animations:
(Click on the picture)
An ellipsoid changes its major axis into its minor axis
Monkey Saddle
A rotating saddle: z = x*y
Images:
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