Recently, our class discussed Galileo's findings and contributions to the field of mathematics. Although Galileo is most commonly known for revolutionizing physics and astronomy, it has been misunderstood how much he also contributed to the field of mathematics. But that leads us to an important question, Is math a science? If not, then what is it?
I feel that math is a science, specifically it's a language used to communicate and understand science. Science applies mathematics and is used to help explain scientific properties.
Let's look at an application that applies both mathematical and scientific principles: the Barbie Bungee!
The Barbie Bungee activity is a STEM activity that allows students to conduct an experiment, collect data, and then use the data to predict the maximum number of rubber bands that should be used to give Barbie a safe jump from a high, specific height. She should get as close to the ground as possible without hitting the ground; she's a daredevil.
I feel that math is a science, specifically it's a language used to communicate and understand science. Science applies mathematics and is used to help explain scientific properties.
Let's look at an application that applies both mathematical and scientific principles: the Barbie Bungee!
The Barbie Bungee activity is a STEM activity that allows students to conduct an experiment, collect data, and then use the data to predict the maximum number of rubber bands that should be used to give Barbie a safe jump from a high, specific height. She should get as close to the ground as possible without hitting the ground; she's a daredevil.
Many different mathematical and scientific principles are used during this experiment. The distance to which the doll will fall is directly proportional to the number of rubber bands, so this context is used to examine linear functions. Depending on how you want students to expand on this activity, many different math and science standards apply to this activity such as creating a linear model or scatter plot and finding the best fit line on a graph and interpreting rates of change.
For our group's experiment, we used a Hulk doll instead of a Barbie to drop. The Hulk doll was heavier so we knew we needed a stronger bungee. We measured how high the bridge was so that we had a good estimate of how far the Hulk would fall. We used a meter stick in the classroom to set up simulation examples to help. We made a prediction of 23 rubber bands needed, which was a little bit of a guess. In the experiment, the first time the Hulk did just barely hit the cement. To improve, we should have had just one or two less rubber bands on our bungee. We did end up taking a couple off and launching again and it was perfect, just centimeters from hitting the ground.
Math and science are both integrated into this activity. Without mathematics, nothing can be calculated in this experiment and it wouldn't be able to exist.
Mathematics is the study of anything that obeys the rules of logic, using the rules of logic. Barbie agrees, math is an important element of the scientific method in order to carry out science.
For our group's experiment, we used a Hulk doll instead of a Barbie to drop. The Hulk doll was heavier so we knew we needed a stronger bungee. We measured how high the bridge was so that we had a good estimate of how far the Hulk would fall. We used a meter stick in the classroom to set up simulation examples to help. We made a prediction of 23 rubber bands needed, which was a little bit of a guess. In the experiment, the first time the Hulk did just barely hit the cement. To improve, we should have had just one or two less rubber bands on our bungee. We did end up taking a couple off and launching again and it was perfect, just centimeters from hitting the ground.
Math and science are both integrated into this activity. Without mathematics, nothing can be calculated in this experiment and it wouldn't be able to exist.
Mathematics is the study of anything that obeys the rules of logic, using the rules of logic. Barbie agrees, math is an important element of the scientific method in order to carry out science.