Operation Manual

Applications 14-13

8214APPS.DOC TI-82, Chapter 14, English Bob Fedorisko Revised: 02/09/01 9:27 AM Printed:

02/09/01 12:43 PM Page 13 of 20

5. Press

to graph the equations and watch closely as they are

plotted. Notice that the ball and the passenger on the ferris wheel

appear to be closest near where the paths cross in the upper right

quadrant of the ferris wheel.

6. Press

. Change the viewing

WINDOW

to concentrate on this

portion of the graph.

Tmin = 1 Xmin = 0 Ymin = 10

Tmax = 3 Xmax = 23.5 Ymax = 25.5

Tstep = .03 Xscl = 10 Yscl = 10

7. Press

. After the graph is plotted, press

to move near the point

on the ferris wheel where the paths cross. Note the values of

, and

8. Press

†

to move to the curve of the ball. Note the values of

and

(

is unchanged). Notice where the cursor is located. This is the position

of the ball when the person on the ferris wheel passes the intersection.

Did the ball or the person reach the intersection first?

Using

TRACE

, you can, in effect, take “snapshots” in time to explore the

relative behavior of two objects in motion.