Satellite Dish Project
Power-Point by Jordan Schettler
Outline
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Introduction
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Phase I: Research
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Phase II: Make a Model
•
Phase III: Show Off Time
•
Phase IV: Why it Works
Introduction
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•
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The Superdish Network wants you and your research
team to design and build a prototype parabolic dish.
Your team will be in competition against other teams
for the job.
Everyone must contribute to make this a success.
Phase I: Research
Students made brochures which included the following
information (as well as there own personal touch):
•
What is a parabola?
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The standard form: 4p(y - k) = (x - h)2
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Vertex: (h, k), Focus: (h, k + p), Directrix: y = k - p
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How does a satellite dish work?
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What materials will you need for your project?
Student Sample
Phase II: Make a Model
Students made schematic drawings and prototypes
Sample Schematics
Sample Schematics
Building the Prototype
Building the Prototype
Building the Prototype
Prototype Formula
• (x-h)2 = 4P(y-k)
• 4P=16; P=4
• (0,0)= Vertex
•Create formula
•Draw
•Build
•Test
EchoStar “We Work
Together to Help YOU”
Phase III: Show Off Time
Students build full scale dishes and make power-points
Making the Base
Extra Supports and Surface
Installing the Focus
Some Finished Products
Testing the Products
Student Power Point
Samples
KTKM Corp
Dishing out a better future
Function
4p
Vertex : (0, 0)
Focus: (0 , 3) ,
4p=12 , p=3
Directrix : y=-3
Constructing Our Satellite
 Measurements
–Focus: 16 inches
–Diameter: 28 inches
–Circumference: 87.92 inches
–Height of dish: 12 inches
–Curve: x2=16y
1.Hard cardboard foam
2.Poster board
3.Ruler
4.Folder
5.Hot glue gun
6.Pencil
•This is the outline where we glued the
foam pieces down. We made all 16
angles be the same so the satellite
would work better.
This is how the base of how our
satellite looked like but it wasn’t all
finished at this moment.
Cut the focus to stick on the model
6 inches
Phase IV: Why it Works
Students learn the calculus behind reflection
Vertical Beam on a Curve
The slope of the reflected line is the average of the
slopes of the tangent and normal lines
Vertical Beams on a
Parabola
The parabola has the feature that vertical beams are
reflected through a common point, the focus.