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Taos High School students need real world experiences that involve math to answer the age old question: when will I use this in real life? With QuadRocket Equations, students will have the opportunity to design, build, test, and modify rockets in a team environment, and use a quadratic equation to accurately determine the maximum height of their rocket. After design and first build, students will experiment with the amount of water and pressure inside the rocket to find the best ratio of water to air calculating maximum height each time. After two trials, lots of experimentation, and some data analysis, the final rocket competition will result in a winner. Quadratic equations are the cornerstone of Algebra I, and are absolutely essential in successive math courses. A complete understanding of quadratic equations can go a long way to helping a student feel confident (and even excited!) about math. If a student can have fun understanding quadratic equations, we can begin to change perceptions of math class! If you fund this project, your donation will go toward buying AquaPod launchers that allow students to count down their launch from a safe distance. Schwinn foot pumps are easier to pressurize than hand pumps, and the gauges will mean students can accurately measure pressure. Stop watches will be used to measure the rockets' time in the air and are a vital piece of information used in the height formula.
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