Stephen F.

Austin High School

The Academy for Global Studies
1715 W. Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78703

Weird x

Team E-Mail: maxsymonds@mac.com

To: Mr. Kiker, Max Symonds

From:
Max S, Theo S, Gerald H, Caleb S.
(Team Members)
Date: 04/14/15
Period: 1

Design Idea Pitch

Dear Project Manager,
As previously assigned, our teams conic section for this project is: Hyperbola
Our Research:
To research the use of hyperbolic shapes in the real world, our group had the task of finding
where such shapes are used and what is its functionality in the design. Individually we researched
different ways hyperbolas were used as a design or in some cases, an outcome. Our results varied
from cooling towers of nuclear power plants to the sonic boom of an airplane breaking the speed of
sound. Next our task was to research why each application had the shape of a hyperbola.
Finding uses of the hyperbolic shape in real life and documenting why it is used proved to be
somewhat of a challenge since there arent many applications of the shape. We found its use in
structures of buildings and in gear transmissions due to its efficiency. We found that because of the
hyperbolas complicated shape that there were very few natural occurrences of it being produced, nor
were there many useful applications for it in structure except for strength in support or architectural
style.

Our Design:
Our Team will create a model of a nuclear power plant silo. The design of the silo shall be
constructed in accordance to the scale of a real power plant silo. The team wants the design of the
power plant to accurately portray how a hyperbola looks on a real-life structure.
The model silo shall be built on a flat surface, and retain all design qualities that a real silo has;
focusing on the hyperbolic walls. The team will place Solid Carbon Dioxide (ie. Dry Ice) in the silo,
which will produce steam to billow from the silo, for aestetic gains. It shall be no larger than a high
schoolers desk.
Our Construction Model:
Our team will recreate the design of the cooling tower by constructing a paper mache model of
a nuclear power plant. Using the traditional paper mache mix of teared newspaper, glue, and water,
on top of molded chicken wire, we can create an accurate representation of the hyperbolic shape
seen in the tower and hopefully retain the qualities which an actual cooling tower has.
Global Relevance:
The conic section (section of a cone) known as the "hyperbola" offers a diverse array of real world
application ranging from the design of camera lens's and nuclear reactors to the scientific foundation
of the LORAN radio navigation system. These applications of the hyperbola in real world systems can
be seen throughout the globe. Cameras are household items throughout most of the world, nuclear
reactors power much of the worlds cities and projects, and the LORAN navigation system was used
in the World War II era throughout the open seas and into the modern day.

Our architect team has researched and found the following four images that each represent a
different application of our conic section in the real-world.
Nuclear Reactors: In regards to the physical construction of nuclear
reactors, the hyperbolic shape itself does not help the reactors cooling
process. The hyperbolic shape of the reactor ensures a strong structure
to protect the tower from high winds, since the towers are at such high
altitudes. Also, the hyperbolic shape is whats often called a doubleruled surface, in which every point on the surface is the intersection of
two lines also on the surface. Therefore, hyperbolic constructions, such

Globoid Gear:
The globoid gear, the only gear with a hyperbolic shape, has proven to
be more superior to the traditional worm gear because of greater
efficiency. They have both a greater load strength because of its multiple
teeth sliding. The hyperbolic shape allows for more fluid movement and
is quieter than other gears. The manufacturing cost is the only reason
why it isnt more popular.

as the nuclear reactor. are strong and can be cheaply built using only
straight beams.
Image source: https://www.llnl.gov/news/nuclear-power-and-risk-nuclearproliferation

Image source: http://www.zakgear.com/Wormoid.html

LORAN: Loran (Long Range Navigation) uses a hyperbolic chain of

stations in order to help ships and aircraft in navigation. Developed in the

Sonic Boom: An object creates a sonic boom when it breaks the sound

early 1940s and first used in World War 2, Loran has helped many

barrier (travelling at Mach 1). This sonic boom sends a conic shock wave

sailors and airmen navigate the ocean through a series of stations

scattered across the ocean. Loran works through the use of two Loran

backwards from the object, that hits the ground in a hyperbolic curve.

stations, a master station, and a Loran receiver mounted on top of a

ship. The navigator uses these stations to create two different hyperbolas
which are created by different repeated frequencies from the Loran
stations. The point of intersection for these two parabolas is the location
of the ship.
Image source:
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/beyond/articles/LoranGPS/Loran.html

Image Sources:
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/232613Anyone-remember-the-sonic-boom/page5
http://voer.edu.vn/c/the-hyperbola/166e8432/55270cd1

We request approval of this design idea pitch at your earliest convenience. Please contact us with
any questions, comments, or concerns you have about this proposal.
Sincerely,
Max Symonds, Theo Symonds, Gerald Hendrix and Caleb Short.
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