There is some amazing Middle School Maths in The Cake Server on Joseph’s Machines.
eg. Calculate the length of the arc of a circle to fit your HEAD! Watch for it.
Besides, this is so much FUN!
Archive for the ‘Junior School’ Category
Isaac Newton, The Great Plague and how he filled in his Time!
March 18, 2020I am grateful to Jeff Jacoby and his column, Arguable, in the Boston Globe for reminding me of how Isaac Newton filled in his time when he went into self-isolation during The Great Plague of London in 1665-1666.
He spent time thinking and the results were astounding!!!!!
1. Stuntman Math: Car Stunts
October 20, 2019“With enough stupidity you can get any car to roll over” (MSN AUTO)
What stuntmen and women need is maths!
Maths is essential to the process, from calculating speeds and braking distances to looking at the ratio of the amount of film shot to the length of time of the end sequence. The stunt and crash is outlined, and the co-ordinator explains how he must calculate speeds and stopping distances carefully.
So you want to be a stuntman?
First think of the pain.
Mark Eiden, 52, a professional stuntman (pictured) who is not only afraid of heights, but was once told he likely wouldn’t walk again. Eiden’s had surgery on both arms and shoulders, five knee surgeries, six nasal reconstructions, foot and hand surgery and a facial cast. He fell off the top of a stunt car at 40 mph when the tyre blew. He gaffer taped his ear and continued, despite severe concussion. Northern Express Michigan
If you still want to be a stuntman do the Maths:
Rolling a Car:
You can use quick handbrake turn, speed around a corner, fishtail into the curb or some other lunatic thing. The most controlled way to roll a car is to use a ramp.
These ramps often have a kicker at the end to add extra lift. Ramp calculations can be complicated, but the simplest way to look at the maths is to determine the angle a car will roll ie. When the Centre of Gravity moves over the base.
Centre of Gravity vs Base Width
The distance between the front wheels in cars is often called the track width.
Table from Accident Reconstruction Website
So the Lamobgini Diablo is very hard to roll (build a higher ramp) and it therefore beats the SUV for stability every time.
Balancing on 2 Wheels
A more skilled stunt involves driving a car on two wheels. A very skilled stunt driver can lift the car onto wheels by snaking the car back and forth across the road until it balances on 2 wheels.
From the Centre of Gravity vs Base angles above you can see that the SUV is the easiest car to balance of 2 wheels.
But there is nothing quite as crazy as this SUV stunt:
Saudis changing car tyres, just insane.
View full video here.
Safe Driving Info here
JOKE like no one’s listening. DANCE like a Mathematician
August 14, 2019It must be the off season. Or the heat in the Northern Summer. Or desperation. Reader’s Digest has just published 37 Math Jokes. Mathematicians are not known for the jokes. But here are 3 goodish ones.
ANS: He’ll stop at nothing to avoid them.
ANS: A roamin’ numeral.
ANS: Probably.
Here is a classic MATHSPIG JOKE:
And while we are being crazy cool kids here is a TED Talk on Mathematicians Dancing. I would call this a Mathfail because these guys DO NOT look as though they are having fun. Or, maybe, just maybe, the success of a joke or a dance is all in the delivery.
The Equation that tried to break the internet!!!
August 3, 2019The following equation went viral on Twitter like the Yanni & Laurel sound Tweet. What answer do you get?
The Equation that tried to stump the internet! New York Times
Sound Math 2: Can you hear this high pitch sound?
April 29, 2019
One of the best summaries of sound can be found here at Maths is Fun
Other Sound Math:
Make a match Box sing like Sinatra
The Curious Nature of Drummers’ Brains
Pump Up the volume or Knock, Knock Knockin on Your skull wall!
Sound Math 3: How loud is LOUD?
April 27, 2019
The logarithmic equation for sound and the decibel calculator here
More here
Other Sound Math:
Make a match Box sing like Sinatra
The Curious Nature of Drummers’ Brains
Pump Up the volume or Knock, Knock Knockin on Your skull wall!
Sound Math 4: Make a match Box sing like Sinatra
April 27, 2019
Other Mathspig Sound Posts:
The Curious Nature of Drummers’ Brains
Pump Up the volume or Knock, Knock Knockin on Your skull wall!
41 Maths things to do before you’re 12
March 25, 2019
“A growing body of research shows us that outdoor play leads to better physical and mental health, has positive effects on cognitive function and learning, and reduces the incidence of behavioural problems.” Maria Zotti, Nature Play, SA.
Peter Dunstan, Principal Kilkenny PS, SA, writes in SAPPA magazine, Primary Focus, that outdoor play fosters “wonderment, independence and freedom” as well as “social skills, imagination, creativity and problem solving”.
Inspired by SAPPA and NaturePlay, Mathspig has produced her own outdoorsy maths list:
References:
7. Robin Hood Give us your best shot.
9. You can measure the volume of your lungs by blowing one breath into a balloon and pushing it into a full bucket of water. Measure the overflow.
15: Outdoor Maths: Times Tables
21. Light intensity links. Here and here.
36. Killer heels that really kill.
