Algebra II: Elliptical Orbits

Objectives

• Students will model a curve from a picture on the graph screen.
• Students will apply the general equation of an ellipse whose center is not at the origin.
• Students will solve an equation of an ellipse in x and y for the variable y.

Vocabulary

• ellipse
• vertices
• general equation of an ellipse

About the Lesson

This lesson involves generating equations of best fit for an ellipse.
As a result students will:

• Be able to calculate values for parameters for the general equation of an ellipse from the graph of an ellipse whose center is not the origin.
• Create two functions to model the equation of an ellipse, one is the top half and the other is the bottom half of the ellipse.
• Verify that the equations do in fact closely model the actual path of a planet in orbit.