Stay in Shape
Students learn that math is important in navigation and engineering. They learn about triangles and how they can help determine distances. Ancient land and sea navigators started with the most basic of navigation equations (speed x time = distance). Today, navigational satellites use equations that take into account the relative effects of space and time. However, even these high-tech wonders cannot be built without pure and simple math concepts — basic geometry and trigonometry — that have been used for thousands of years.
Triangles are helpful in navigation and engineering
Understanding the properties of certain shapes is useful to engineers. For example, to measure extremely long distances, engineers use their understanding of geometry and angles. Civil engineers sometimes design buildings with cross-bracing for added strength. Depending on the type of cross-bracing used, different triangle shapes are formed, which greatly affects the structure quality. Computer engineers who design recordable compact discs to store music calculate the disc's circumference (circle perimeter) to determine its storage capacity.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how navigation technology is founded on mathematical principles that have been used for thousands of years
- Use geometric relations of triangles and circles to find distances.
- Use the Pythagorean Theorem.