Group members (underline your name):

Objective: To build an experiential basis for the cycloid and related functions

Material each group: one wheel, tape measures or meter sticks; tape, string, stickers for marking the angles; four data record sheets; four graph papers; one overhead foil; one sticker (ant) for each group;

Directions:

• Collect the materials for your group;
• Find a place in the classroom or hall that provides enough space to four three-four meter sticks, possibly more; work along a wall if possible;
• If you are in the hall please be considerate of other classes; keep down your voices as much as possible;
• Divide your wheel into a suitable number of parts (at least eight, more will be better);
• Place a sticker on the rim of the wheel to mark the ant;
• Roll out the tapes on a straight line or place several meter sticks front to back;
• Position the wheel at 0 with the ant at the lowest point of the wheel;
• Turn the wheel a pre-determined amount; record the relevant data after every turn;
• Complete at least two turns of the wheel;
• Graph your data; be sure to think about suitable scales for the two axes; also, every group member should choose a different graph so that you can share the results;
• Graph one set of data on the provided overhead for presentation in class.

Data Record Sheet

			Distance from start
Angle turned	Height of center	Height of ant	center	ant