TITLE:  Water to the Max

AUTHOR:  R. Vance Wood, Hurricane High School, Hurricane, UT

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:  (9-12), Math or Science

OVERVIEW:  This lesson is one which I have used with the
class, however it will work equally as well as homework or
extra credit assignment. In addition to teaching, I am also
a track coach and this activity is of particular help to my
athletes in seeing what they should do to maximize their
performance. This activity is a great deal of fun in the
spring of the year when the students want to get outside to
enjoy the great outdoors and the water.

PURPOSE:  To find the optimum angle to achieve the greatest
distance.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
Protractor
Meter stick
Garden hose with nozzle attached

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:  Attach the garden hose to a tap
and adjust the flow of water to a constant pressure.
Starting at an angle of 0 degrees to the ground, measure and
record the distance the stream travels in the horizontal
direction along the ground. Repeat this process at 20, 30,
45, 60, and 75 degrees.

Questions and conclusions:
1.   which angle allowed you to achieve the maximum
     distance?
2.   Can you think of a method to determine the maximum
     height the water achieved at the optimum angle? Briefly
     describe your method.
3.   Draw the approximate path the water followed in it's
     flight. What is the shape of the path?
4.   If you were to increase the pressure on the water in
     the hose, what effect would it have on the angle you
     would use to achieve maximum distance at the new
     pressure?
5.   do you think that a shot put or a javelin would need to
     be thrown at some angle different than the water to
     achieve maximum distance?