14.2: A Catapulted Pumpkin Catapulted Pumpkin
36
-32
-28
-24
-20
The equation h = 2 + 23.7t – 4.9tº represents the height of a pumpkin that is catapulted up in the air as a
function of time, t, in seconds. The height is measured in meters above ground. The pumpkin is shot up at a
vertical velocity of 23.7 meters per second.
1. Without writing anything down consider these questions:
• What do you think the 2 in the equation tells us in this situation? What about the -4.9t??
If we graph the equation, will the graph open upward or downward? Why?
Where do you think the vertical intercept would be?
• What about the horizontal Intercepts?
2. Graph the equation using graphing technology.
3. Identify the vertical and horizontal intercepts, and the vertex of the graph. Explain what each point means
In this situation.
Height (Meters)
16
12
8
Time (Seconds)