Folio Task - Polynomial Quadratics | Excell Ibarra

REPORT OVERVIEW
Susan Hyde, the principal of Australian Science and Mathematics School, has asked the students to manage
a way for her to get to the city for her meetings as fast as they can as traffic and finding a park has been a
struggle of her. A method which has been researched upon which is a possibility is the use of a helibox to
have Susan get out by jumping out of the helicopter due to the helicopter not being able to land anywhere.
METHOD:
The instructions on the sheet was done, and heliboxes were created with the method on the sheet given,
and dropped off at the void which was approximately, 5.4 metres high. The void was the best choice to drop
the heliboxes, due to it being the only appropriate height at the ASMS to test the heliboxes as it was the ideal
height which allowed it to spin, and if it was too high it would affect the heliboxes, due to, too much air and
which will allow it to blow around due to its thin material.
SECTION 1: Helibox and Blade Length
Three heliboxes designs which were assigned to us to test, with each different blade length size were built.
The length consisted of a small, medium and a large size. The lengths of the blades were chose specifically
and it is seen on the results that it made a quadratic line, which means the lengths of the three designs were
good lengths to test to as they provided different data. Another length was chosen and decided by our group,
which was also added into the data collection, and the length was chosen to be extra small with the
comparison of the other sizes as the small size was cut shorter.
The measured blade lengths (cm) were:
Large = 18.4 cm
Medium = 12.2cm
Small = 7 cm
Extra small 3.9 cm
Results
Graph 1.
Scatter plot of the results produced in Microsoft Excel.

Blade
length (cm)

Drop
!me (s)

3.9

3.17

4.32

12.2

4.28

18.4

2.3

Table 1
Results from dropping the heliboxes. The
recorded times are the average times taken
after three attempts.

Using a calculator (TI-84) a graph was made to the which looked exactly like the one on Microsoft Excel was
made. It is seen that a a concave line was made and looks similar to a quadratic line. The assumption was
tested using QuadReg function on the calculator, Nathan also gave me the Excel result and the R-squared
value calculated to .99 (2 s.f.), which is close to a perfect line. The equation of the line given is also a
quadratic form (y=ax2+bx+c).
An optimal blade was found by using the functions on the calculator, which was resolved by using the vertex
of the line, the coordinates for the vertex came out as (10.37, 4.97). This meant, the blade length will be
10.37 cm and estimated time of the drop will be 4.97, this was tested as the results were calculated.

Blade
length (cm)

Drop
!me (s)

3.9

3.17

4.32

10.4

5.63

12.2

4.28

18.4

2.3

GRAPH & TABLE

Same results with optimal length added.
___
With the optimal length blade helibox result being added on to the other results, with a time of 5.63 seconds
which did not perfect match with the time of 4.97 seconds, which equals to .66 seconds difference made a
huge difference on the graph, as it is seen on the graph above, the line of best fit does not fit perfectly with
the dots, compared to graph 1. The R squared value dropped to .12 difference which is still good as 3 out of
5 dots were still touching the line. An human error which was made was not dropping it to the exact height
every time as the hand cant be exactly where it was every time.

SECTION 2: Helibox and Building Material

The goal for this section is to investigate other designs, we decided to to use different types of materials to
construct the helibox. We decided to use different types of paper material, thing, cardboard type of paper and
the same helibox as the first section. We thought itd be best to use the optimal length from section one
which was 10.37cm.
METHOD:
The method for section one was the same but instead of different blade lengths, it was different type of
material and same lengths (10.37cm)

Material

Drop &me (s)

Card

2.26

Thick Paper

2.13

Paper

5.63

Thin Paper

3.78

As it easily seen on the graph, that paper was still the best and there were no improvements and no material
could even come a second closer to paper. The thinker papers fell at that speed due to more of their weight
rather than the air which affected the blade to speed.
SECTION 3 Alternative Transport
Overview
Another procedure had to be made as the helix box was not the best choice. The choice made was to make
a slingshot, as it was a fast method, which would really help Susan to get to her meeting fast or on time. A
sling shot was tested with three different lengths of the sling pulled.
Method
A small model was made using a rubber band, with paper being the projectile and the rubber band was was
stretched at a certain length. The height of where it was launched was approximately 1 metre off the floor
and the place it was shot at and the projectile was kept the same.
Three lengths were tested: (3 Trials each, then averaged out)
-5
- 10
- 15

Stretched
(cm)

Landing (me
(s)
5

1.3

10

1.2

15

0.85

It is seen that the dots have a perfect R squared value of the graph which is 1 (which is line of best
fit). To improve this experiment is add more testing lengths, and measure how far the projectile
flew, which would have impacted on where the slingshot to see what the best on would be the best
for transporting.
Conclusion
Overall, it is seen with the experiment and results the graphs, the slingshot would be the best
option as its the fastest way although the helix box is the safest way.