PROJECT DESCRIPTION
INSTRUCTORS
SCHOOL SITE
LEVEL
SUBJECTS
ELECTRICITY USAGE
LESS THAN FIVE MATERIALS
TEACHERS NEEDED
BOOK CHAPTER
“Could our students show mathematical volumes in a fun way?” Philip Estrada and Mele Sato wanted to do a short collaborative project integrating his physics and engineering class and her calculus class. They were looking at Li Hongbo’s paper sculptures which are solid volumes but can be opened up to show tiny slices inside. They wondered, “Could our students show mathematical volumes in a fun way?”
They had the idea for students to look at rotational volumes by cutting shapes into books and rotating the pages around the axis of the book spine to create a three dimensional shape. The students would then display these former books as sculptures using their new woodshop skills.
Phil made an exemplar. He learned that he had to use large paperback books with at least 400 pages and he used a band saw for a finer cut. Phil mounted the book so that all the pages spread to create a rotational volume.
To start, the teachers showed models and fielded questions to show the students the expectations and learning goals for engineering and math.
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Students first drew a line that interested them without worrying if they could cut it or do the math to explain their line. They experimented with what they could do. The students then brought their shapes into math class to learn how to use calculus to describe their line, the volume beneath their line and the volume created by rotating their line around an axis. The students then decided to change their lines or shapes based upon what they had learned in both math and engineering. After they created their new forms, the students used different types of wood joined together to create an individually designed mounting surface to display their Rotational Volumes.
The sculptures were displayed at an evening exhibition, with accompanying math posters to explain the equations which described each piece.