IMM2 PROJECT- PHYSICS WITH ANGRY BIRDS®
Angry Birds® is a game that uses parabolas. You may not have known that, but it definitely uses
parabolas (or the graph of quadratic equations).
Source: blog.mrmeyer.com
Well, it just so happens that we are studying quadratic equations and the graphs of parabolas in Unit 5
and Unit 6. So, for this project, we are going to use our knowledge of quadratic equations, the graphs
of parabolas, and Angry Birds® in a project!
Angry Birds® Project – Part 1: The Basic Equation
1. List your birthday in number form. For example: January 10 is 1/10.
2. These two numbers will be the x-intercepts for your quadratic equation.
- Let the smaller number be negative
- Let the larger number be positive.
- In my example, the quadratic equation has roots at x = -1 and x = 10.
3. Use these roots to write your Quadratic Equation.
It will be in the form: y = ax2 + bx + c
4. This is your basic equation for this project.
5. Graph your equation (by hand, no Geogebra is allowed). Make sure to label
the:
 x-intercepts with title and coordinates
 y-intercept with title and coordinates
 vertex with title and coordinates
Name:_______________________________ Block:______ Part One due date:_______
-10 points for each day late
Grading Rubric
Part 1
Part 1 Total ____x2=
=grade
50
2 points for correct signs used on your birthday intercepts
o 5 points for correct work shown to calculate your birthday’s quadratic equation
o 5 points for correctly demonstrating box method
o
o 2 points for labeling x-axis
o 2 points for labeling y-axis
o 4 points for labeling correct scale on each axis
o 5 points for neatly using a ruler when drawing axis
o
5 pts for graphing at least five coordinates of your birthday’s quadratic equation
o 8 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with coordinates
o 4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with title “x-intercepts”
o 4 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with coordinates
o 2 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with title “y-intercept”
o
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex with coordinates and title “vertex”
Angry Birds® Project – Part 2: Earth
We will now fling the bird on Earth. To do this:
1. The force of gravity on Earth is -32ft/sec2. In physics, we use ½ the force of gravity.
2. Multiply your “basic equation” by -16. This is your Earth-based equation.
3. Find the x-intercept of this equation.
4. Find the vertex for this equation. This will tell you how high the bird traveled.
5. Graph your equation (by hand, no Geogebra is allowed). Make sure to label
the x-intercepts, y-intercepts, and vertex.
5. We are going to place the slingshot on the y-axis of your graph. How high is the slingshot?
6. Somewhere on the path of your bird’s arc, place a pig. At what point is the pig?
Short Essay
After completing your graph, use your graph to explain why you multiplied your basic
equation by -16. Explain what effect that had on the graph, axis and scale.
Name:_______________________________ Block:______ Part Two due date:_______
-10 points for each day late
Grading Rubric
Part 2
Part 2 Total ____x2=
=grade
50
3 pts for correct Earth quadratic equation using correct Earth gravity
3 pts for showing work as to how you distributed to find Earth’s quadratic equation
8 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with coordinates
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with title “x-intercepts”
4 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with title “y-intercept”
3 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with picture of slingshot
4 pts for correctly labeling vertex with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex label “vertex”
4 pts for correctly labeling pig with coordinates
3 pts for correctly labeling pig with picture of a pig
5 pts for correctly answering the first essay question
5 pts for correctly answering the second essay question
Name:_______________________________ Block:______ Part Three due date:_______
-10 points for each day late
Grading Rubric
Part 3
Part 3 Total ____=
=grade
100
Angry Birds® Project – Part 3: The Moon
We will now fling the bird on the surface of the moon. To do this:
1. Research the force of gravity on the Moon. Make sure you cite your information. In
physics, we use ½ the force of gravity.
2. Multiply your “basic equation” by -1/2 the force of gravity on the moon. This is your
Moon-based equation.
3. Find the x-intercept of this equation.
4. Find the vertex for this equation. This will tell you how high the bird traveled.
5. Graph your equation (by hand, no Geogebra is allowed). Make sure to label
the x-intercepts, y-intercepts, and vertex.
6. We are going to place the slingshot on the y-axis of your graph. How high is
the slingshot?
7. Use the exact same value of x for the pig that you used on Earth. How high should we put
the pig so that we will hit it?
3 pts for correct Moon quadratic equation using correct Moon gravity
5 pts for showing work as to how you distributed to find Moon’s quadratic equation
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with coordinates
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with title “x-intercepts”
4 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with title “y-intercept”
3 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with picture of slingshot
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex label “vertex”
2 pts for correctly labeling pig with coordinates
3 pts for correctly labeling pig with picture of a pig
Angry Birds® Project – Part 3: Planets #1 & 2
We will now fling the bird on the surface of a random planet. To do this:
1. Research the force of gravity on any planet you want. Make sure you cite your information.
In physics, we use ½ the force of gravity.
2. Multiply your “basic equation” by -1/2 the force of gravity on the moon. This is your Planet
1-based equation.
3. Find the x-intercept of this equation.
4. Find the vertex for this equation. This will tell you how high the bird traveled.
5. Graph your equation (by hand, no Geogebra is allowed). Make sure to label
the x-intercepts, y-intercepts, and vertex.
6. We are going to place the slingshot on the y-axis of your graph. How high is
the slingshot?
7. Use the exact same value of x for the pig that you used on Earth. How high should we put
the pig so that we will hit it?
Planet #1:______________________
Gravity:_____________________
3 pts for correct planet quadratic equation using correct __________________ gravity
5 pts for showing work as to how you distributed to find _____________’s quadratic equation
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with coordinates
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with title “x-intercepts”
4 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with title “y-intercept”
3 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with picture of slingshot
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex label “vertex”
2 pts for correctly labeling pig with coordinates
3 pts for correctly labeling pig with picture of a pig
Planet #2:______________________
Gravity:_____________________
3 pts for correct planet quadratic equation using correct __________________ gravity
5 pts for showing work as to how you distributed to find _____________’s quadratic equation
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with coordinates
4 pts for correctly labeling x-intercepts with title “x-intercepts”
4 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with title “y-intercept”
3 pts for correctly labeling y-intercept with picture of slingshot
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex with coordinates
2 pts for correctly labeling vertex label “vertex”
2 pts for correctly labeling pig with coordinates
3 pts for correctly labeling pig with picture of a pig
Angry Birds® Project – Part 4: The Writing
Answer the following writing questions as completely and as accurately as possible:
1. Suppose you are firing your Angry Bird on a planet with less gravity than Earth.
 Will the height of your slingshot be higher or lower than the slingshot on earth?
 Will the height of the pig be higher or lower than the pig on earth?
 Will the vertex of the parabola be higher or lower than the vertex of the parabola on
earth?
 Explain why each of these results occurs. Use your data to support your argument.
2. Suppose you are firing your Angry Bird on a planet with more gravity than
Earth.
 Will the height of your slingshot be higher or lower than the slingshot on earth?
 Will the height of the pig be higher or lower than the pig on earth?
 Will the vertex of the parabola be higher or lower than the vertex of the parabola on
earth?
 Explain why each of these results occurs. Use your data to support your argument.
3. Research an application of parabolas in the Real World. Explain how
knowledge of the graphs of parabolas are important for that application.
Part 4 100 points (See Rubric on the back)
(If the writing is not typed, then you will get 0 points)
Part 4 Total _________
Total Score:____________ / 100 points
BEGINNING
to learn the
NM Standard
1
Not
Attempted
Assessable or
Observed
0
None of the
questions are
answered.
EXCEEDS NM
Standard
4
MEETS NM
Standard
3
APPROACHING
NM Standard
2
Question 1:
Gravity Less
Than Earth
Every question
is answered
using data to
support your
argument and
the
explanation is
clear and
concise.
Every
question is
answered
and the
explanation
of the results
is clear.
Every question
is answered, but
is in need of
more
explanation of
the results.
Not every
question is
answered or
answers are
incorrect.
Question 2:
Gravity
More Than
Earth
Every question
using data to
support your
argument and
the
explanation is
clear and
concise.
The
explanation
clearly defines
and describes
an application
of parabolas in
the real world.
Every
question is
answered
and the
explanation
of the results
is clear.
Every question
is answered, but
is in need of
more
explanation of
the results.
Not every
question is
answered.
None of the
questions are
answered.
The
explanation
defines and
describes an
application
of parabolas
in the real
world.
There are a
couple of
spelling
and/or
grammatical
errors, but
do not
distract from
the ideas
being
conveyed
The explanation
clearly defines
an application
of parabolas in
the real world.
The
explanation
defines an
application of
parabolas.
There is no
explanation.
There are a
couple of
spelling and/or
grammatical
errors that
distract from
the ideas being
conveyed.
There are
many of
spelling
and/or
grammatical
errors that
distract from
the ideas
being
conveyed.
There is no
writing and
therefore no
errors.
Criteria
Explanation
of an
application
of parabolas
Spelling and
Grammar
There are no
spelling and
grammar
errors.
Research
Citation
There are clear
citations
Total Score:_________________
There are no
Citations