Parametric polygon synthesizer
- Author:
- Judah L Schwartz
This is one of set of applets designed to be a problem posing playground for teachers.
The left hand panel shows the trajectory in space traced out by a moving object.
The right hand panel shows the horizontal and vertical motions of that object as functions of time.
The user can control -
- the number of intervals during which the object moves with constant speed (links slider)
- the times at which the speed of the object may change (white dots in right panel)
- the horizontal position of the object at those instants of time (lower right panel)
- the vertical position of the object at those instants of time (upper right panel)
A suggested problem -
Using 4 links, vary x(time) and y(time) so as to make a trajectory in the left
panel that is a rhombus.
Why does the shape of the trajectory not change when you vary the position
of the white dots in the right panel? What does change? Why?
What other problems could/would you pose to your students based on this applet?