String design, ellipses, and orbital mechanics

2023-11-20 09:44:42

String design, ellipses, and orbital mechanics




Here's a different and somewhat artistic way to encourage understanding of a conic section.  Participants physically build an ellipse by choosing two foci and sketching the figure through a loop of string. While stitching an elliptical string design they puzzle about varying the foci spread and the loop length to create more extreme ellipses and are intuitively introduced to the measurement of eccentricity. The range and meaning of eccentricity, orbit analysis, perihelion and aphelion are all part of this visual understanding of ellipses.


For more on Orbital Mechanics - Why does it stay in orbit?



Activity Solutions & Supporting Materials
Share this:
Comments (0)
    Display 1 - 10 Of total 0
    Ebola updated
       Ebola has continued to gain stre...
    Earth Day Actions for Our Planet (April 22)
    We have 16 activities that you...
    Fast Growing Plant
    This activity/post is a little diffe...
    How many wings did the Bills send the Bengals?
      Cincinnati Bengals serving their thank-y...
    When will they collide?
    Show the video to your class. Give students time t...
    How can Nike give away so much great stuff?
    Worldwide Nike supports many teams and athlete...
    Fish tale, go figure!
    This is being updated....