Lesson 5

Lesson 5: Modelling Problems with Radicals

Focus

Hemera/Thinkstock

One complete orbit of a planet around a star represents the planet’s year. The time it takes for one complete orbit (T) can be accurately predicted by the radical equation , where K is a constant and r is the distance the planet is from the star.

As you may have noticed while working on Module 5 Project: Plan a Planet, radicals are found in many different equations associated with the universe. Throughout this module you have seen a wide variety of equations that use radicals. In this lesson you will use radical equations to model a variety of different situations on Earth and throughout the universe. You will develop some of these equations yourself.

Outcomes

At the end of this lesson you will be able to

• solve a problem that involves radical expressions
  
  
• solve problems by modelling situations using radical equations

Lesson Question

You will investigate the following question:

• How do you solve problems by modelling situations using radical equations?

Assessment

Your assessment may be based on a combination of the following tasks:

• completion of the Lesson 5 Assignment (Download the Lesson 5 Assignment and save it in your course folder now.)
  
  
• course folder submissions from Try This and Share activities
  
  
• additions to Module 5 Glossary Terms and Formula Sheet
  
  
• work under Project Connection