Airplane Data

Collect time and distance data for two planes.  (Due in two weeks)

This will be our last class.  You must be sure to have your data ready – there are no second chances for this and I don’t want anyone to miss it!

Solve the fire station problem in the Taxicab Geometry packet.  Your answer should be thorough and complete.  Be prepared to compare/share your solution with a classmate and present your solutions to the rest of the group.

• Use this game of life applet to alter the rules to life! Make changes to the original rules and write about the effect it has. For each situation, include answers to: a) What happens? b) Why?

• Include at least 2 screenshots with each problem.  Take one screenshot at the very beginning of your new system and another one after about 50 generations. ** Remember when you change the rules you can’t have “die” and “born” clicked at the same time! **

1. Make a system that is less “active” than the traditional system.
2. Make a system that is more “crowded” than the traditional system.
3. Make a system that is more “active” than the traditional system.
4. Challenge:  Can you create a system that continues to change and create unique patterns the way the traditional system does?

• View other cellular automata here

LIFE:
a game that imitates real life.

This simulation is based on a game invented by mathematician John Horton Conway. Conway’s Game of Life is an example of “cellular automation” where all cells’ behavior on the grid are determined by a set of rules. The game board represents a community and each cell represents a community member. All members follow certain rules.

The rules are simple.
1. If a cell has too many (meaning 4 or more) neighbors the cell dies because of overcrowding.
2. If the cell is too lonely (meaning one or less neighbors), it also dies.
3. The last rule of the game is that if a cell has the right environment (meaning exactly three neighbors) a baby cell will be born.

This applet also has an added feature to make it easy to see the age of the cell – the color fades form red to blue (red being young cell and blue an older cell)

As you play, try using “step” instead of start and stop – it slows the action down.

Then complete this HW

For Monday:

1) Finish your solution to the Gossip Problem.  Include several diagrams and explain the formula and HOW it works.

2) Practice folding and flying planes.  Pick two that are quite different fliers to use for comparison when we study data.  Here’s a site I’ve used that has good instructions.  Try the rapier, the floating plane, the flying fish, the dart or any others that interest you.