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An application of calculus: optimum parabolic path problem

An application of calculus: optimum parabolic path problem A practical and technological application of calculus problem is posed to motivate freshman students or juniory high school students. A variable coefficient of friction is used in modelling air friction. The case in which the coefficient of friction is a decreasing function of altitude is considered. The optimum parabolic path for a flying object for which the work done by variable coefficient air friction force is minimum is determined. If a flying object follows the determined path, energy requirement would be less compared with other parabolic or linear paths. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Teaching Mathematics and its Applications: An International Journal of the IMA Oxford University Press

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References (1)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
ISSN
0268-3679
eISSN
1471-6976
DOI
10.1093/teamat/hrp015
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

A practical and technological application of calculus problem is posed to motivate freshman students or juniory high school students. A variable coefficient of friction is used in modelling air friction. The case in which the coefficient of friction is a decreasing function of altitude is considered. The optimum parabolic path for a flying object for which the work done by variable coefficient air friction force is minimum is determined. If a flying object follows the determined path, energy requirement would be less compared with other parabolic or linear paths.

Journal

Teaching Mathematics and its Applications: An International Journal of the IMAOxford University Press

Published: Sep 11, 2009

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