7 Precalculus STEM Lessons from NASA

These STEM Precalculus lessons are a continuation of previous foundations from NASA’s STEM Algebra 1/2 and Geometry lessons. Students use functions, equations, and limits to express generalizations and to analyze and understand a broad variety of mathematical relationships. These Precalculus STEM lessons teach students how to use functions to represent not only algebraic and geometric situations, but those involving probability, statistics and trigonometry, as well as calculus. The Educator editions contain answers to all of the precalculus problems. Some of these precalculus lessons require students to use the Texas Instruments Nspire calculator. Also, for additional precalculus lessons, texts and videos, take a look at 165 Precalculus Videos with Texts, Exercises and Reviews.

SPACE VECTORS

Key Topics: Vector addition

High accuracy radars at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center are used to track and relay the position of the International Space Station and other research vehicles. In this activity, students will use spherical coordinates and vector addition to find position coordinates of the space shuttle with respect to the Earth’s center and Dryden Flight Research Center.

Students will

transform spherical coordinates to Cartesian coordinates;
represent 3D vectors in terms of i, j, and k; and
perform vector addition operations.

Lesson Files:

EARTH CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Key Topic: Trigonometric Functions, Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

Exploring space is a complex endeavor. Future destinations include Mars. Students will investigate, analyze and model the communication time lag between Earth and Mars. Transmitting a message between Earth and Mars could take up to 20 minutes because of the distance between the two planets.

Students will

Use trigonometric functions to model periodic behavior or real life data;
Make predictions based on the properties of a function;
Graph a sine curve; and
determine the domain and range of functions using graphs and tables.

Prerequisites: Students should have prior knowledge of plotting data on a coordinate plane, of solving equations, and of key characteristics of a sinusoidal function and the parent function, f(x)=sinx.

Lesson Files:

Earth Can You Hear Me Now Educator Edition
Earth Can You Hear Me Now Student Edition
Video: Spirit – Six Years of Roving Mars (4:54 min, 32.1mb)
Video: Mars and Earth Orbit Animation (3 secs, 299kb)

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE LUNAR OUTPOST

Key Topic: Pythagorean Theorem, arc length, inverse tangent

Students will apply mathematics formulas to calculate various geometric measures in the relationships between the height of a lunar communication tower and the tower’s communications range.

Students will

use algebraic properties to solve equations for a given variable;
apply formulas to calculate various geometric measures; and
analyze data to determine a solution to a real life problem.

Prerequisites: Prior to this activity, students should have had experiences applying formulas. Students should be familiar with using calculators in evaluating formulas and have a basic knowledge of circles, trigonometric functions, and point of tangency.

Lesson Files:

THE LUNAR LANDER – ASCENDING FROM THE MOON

Key Topic: Application of trigonometric functions

Students will apply trigonometric functions when using data from the liftoff of the Lunar Lander from the Moon’s surface.

Students will

use trigonometric function rules to solve problems; and
graph and analyze functions to determine a relationship between two variables.

Prerequisites: Students should have a good knowledge of right triangle trigonometry and how to solve problems using trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions. Students should also be able to manipulate and evaluate functions.

Lesson Files:

THE ROBOTIC ARM

Key Topics: Trigonometric functions

In April 2001, the International Space Station (ISS) was equipped with a robotic arm built by the Canadian Space Agency. Canadarm2 has been instrumental in the assembly of the ISS modules as well as movement of supplies and equipment—even astronauts. In this activity, students will study the movement and mechanics of the robotic arm using their knowledge in geometry and precalculus.

Students will

manipulate a two-dimensional simulation of the robotic arm to capture an astronaut;
use trigonometric functions to determine distances spanned; and
determine the relationship between angles of deflection and angles of rotation of the robotic arm.

Lesson Files:
Note: This activity requires the use of TI-Nspire technology to be used successfully.

Files for use with the TI-Nspir calculator:

The Robotic Arm TI-Nspire Educator Edition
The Robotic Arm TI-Nspire Student Edition
Note: The following files are specific for Texas Instrument Nspire calculators:
- The Robotic Arm TI-Nspire Document (TNS)
- The Robotic Arm TI-Nspire Solution Document (TNS)
Video: ISS Update: Capturing a Dragon (9:00 min, 19.5mb)

SIMULATING WEIGHTLESSNESS

Key Topics: Parametric and parabolic equations

The C-9 jet is one of the tools utilized by NASA to simulate the gravity, or reduced gravity, that astronauts feel once they leave Earth. The C-9 jet flies a special parabolic pattern that creates several brief periods of reduced gravity. In this activity, students will study the flight pattern of NASA’s C-9 jet using their knowledge of pre-calculus and parametric equations.

Students will

understand and write parametric equations that model the path of NASA’s C-9 jet;
determine the distance and height of a projectile after t seconds;
analyze given parameters to solve a real-life problem situation;
find the maximum time and distance of one parabolic maneuver and interpret their significance; and
use time as a parameter in parametric equations.

Lesson Files:
Note: This activity requires the use of TI-Nspire technology to be used successfully.

Files for use with the TI-Nspire calculator:

Simulating Weightlessness TI-Nspire Educator Edition
Simulating Weightlessness TI-Nspire Student Edition
Note: The following files are specific for Texas Instrument Nspire calculators:
- Simulating Weightlessness TI-Nspire Document
- Simulating Weightlessness TI-Nspire Solution Document
Video: NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunity (13:42 min, 36.8mb)

RENDEZVOUS FOR TWO

Key Topics: Circles and Ellipses

Students will describe the circular orbits of the space shuttle and the International Space Station by writing the equations of the orbits using distance data from the center of the Earth. Students will also predict the trajectory of the space shuttle as it rendezvous’ with the International Space Station using the properties of an ellipse.

Students will