Mathematics Commons^™

Length Of A Hanging Cable, Eric Costello

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The shape of a cable hanging under its own weight and uniform horizontal tension between two power poles is a catenary. The catenary is a curve which has an equation defined by a hyperbolic cosine function and a scaling factor. The scaling factor for power cables hanging under their own weight is equal to the horizontal tension on the cable divided by the weight of the cable. Both of these values are unknown for this problem. Newton's method was used to approximate the scaling factor and the arc length function to determine the length of the cable. A script was …

Design Of A Rainwater Catchment System, Neil Cammardella

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Certain dimensions of a rainwater catchment and storage system were optimized using climatological and sociological data. Using only daily demand and average daily rain fall data, the following dimensions were optimized: 1) The horizontal roof area needed to collect the daily demand of water, 2) The tank size needed to store all the water collected during a heavy rain event, 3) When full, how long the tank will be able to provide water without rain, and 4) The diameter of the outlet flow orifice. With these calculations, we can design a rainwater catchment system that can capture the daily demand …

Optimal Operation Of A Concentrator, Katrina Stine

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Concentrators are used in the industrial world to remove water from a chemical or substance by heating the liquid until the water evaporates thereby concentrating the remaining substance. The goal of this project is to find the optimum cycle time, number of cycles per year, and the heating element area that would minimize the total annual cost and hours of operation of an industrial concentrator. It was found that the specified concentrator would achieve a minimum total cost of $48,720.50 per year and take 993.8 hours to meet the production goal of evaporating one million kilograms of water.

Average Light Intensity Inside A Photobioreactor, Herby Jean

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

For energy production, microalgae are one of the few alternatives with high potential. Similar to plants, algae require energy acquired from light sources to grow. This project uses calculus to determine the light intensity inside of a photobioreactor filled with algae. Under preset conditions along with estimated values, we applied Lambert-Beer's law to formulate an equation to calculate how much light intensity escapes a photobioreactor and determine the average light intensity that was present inside the reactor.

The Effects Of Age On Short-Term Memory Loss Due To Proactive Interference, Alisha Berkauzer

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This project focused on how proactive interference affects the short-term memory of people based on their age. The goal was to find the prime age for learning information and storing it in one's memory. Seven people from ages fifteen to forty were tested individually, using a set color pattern, in order to see how well each individual could remember the different color patterns as difficulty of the pattern increased. The obtained data was fitted by the polynomial regression. The “fitted” curve shows that as age increases, the individual's performance in memorizing the more difficult patterns decreases. Also, the peaked level …

Going Ballistic: Bullet Trajectories, Amanda Wade

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This project seeks to answer at what angle does a gun marksman have to aim in order to hit the center of a target one meter off the ground and 1000 meters away? We begin by modeling the bullet's trajectory using Euler's method with the help of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet solver, and then systematically search for the angle corresponding to the center of the target. It was found that a marksman shooting a target 1000 meters away and 1 meter off the ground has to aim the rifle 0.436° above horizontal to hit the center.

Travelling Distance Of A Skimboard, Michael Rzonca

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The purpose of this project was to determine the optimum conditions to maximize the distance travelled on a skimboard. Given the differential equation that governs the changes in velocity of the skimboard, we were able to integrate and find an expression for the distance travelled by the skimboard. Using this expression we substitute different values for variables, such as angle of attack and resistance caused by the surface area of the rider, to explore the effect on the total distance travelled by the skimboard.

Roller Coasters Need Calculus Too!, Christina Marshall

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Using the specifications of the given launch roller coaster, we were able to determine the position vector of the roller coaster as a function of time. After determining the position function, we took the derivative of this function to calculate the velocity of the coaster as a function of time. From this calculated velocity vector, we were able to determine the time required for the coaster to reach its maximum height. We substitute this time value back into the position function to determine the maximum height the launch roller coaster can obtain.

Adiabatic Flame Temperature For Combustion Of Methane, Rebeca Pupo

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This project calculated the adiabatic flame temperature of a combustion reaction of pure methane and oxygen, assuming that all of the heat liberated by the combustion reaction goes into heating the resulting mixture. Mole fractions of methane to oxygen were computed from 0.05 to 0.95, in increments of 0.05, and then an integral was computed was computed with respect to temperature using the moles of product produced or leftover moles of reactants from the starting mole fraction times the specific heat of each respective gas. The highest adiabatic flame temperature evaluated, occurred at a mole fraction of 0.35.

Model For Facial Cooling, Jacalyn Sampson

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The goal of this project is to estimate the ambient temperature and the wind speed that cause painful sensation in a cheek. Our findings confirm that the higher the wind speed, the less cold air is required to cause cheek pain.

Calculating The Time Constant Of An Rc Circuit, Sean Dunford

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

In this experiment, a capacitor was charged to its full capacitance then discharged through a resistor. By timing how long it took the capacitor to fully discharge through the resistor, we can determine the RC time constant using calculus.

Social Network Gaming Trends, Michael Gathwright

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The purpose of this project was to determine how long the social network game Scratch-Offs, created by game development company Spice Rack Media, will remain financially viable. The game Scratch-Offs is a freeware game (users pay nothing for the actual software) and is funded through micro transactions (users must pay small amounts of money to play actual games). This implies a relationship between total games played and revenue earned. Using data provided by Spice Rack, we were able to develop an exponential equation that accurately depicts usage trends over time. This equation was used to determine the date Scratch-Offs will …

The Progression Of Sequential Reactions, Jack Mcgeachy

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Sequential reactions consist of linked reactions in which the product of the first reaction becomes the substrate of a second reaction. Sequential reactions occur in industrially important processes, such as the chlorination of methane. A generalized series of three sequential reactions was analyzed in order to determine the times at which each chemical species reaches its maximum. To determine the concentration of each species as a function of time, the differential rate laws for each species were solved. The solution of each gave the concentration curve of the chemical species. The concentration curves of species A₁ and A_{2 …}

Quantum Mechanical Example Of Anti-Tunneling, Tim Mitchell

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The probability of a particle being reflected by a semi-infinite energy barrier was solved using Schrödinger's equations that describe the quantum mechanical behavior of the particle. The continuity of the functions at the origin allowed the wave functions and their respective derivatives to be equated. Solution of the resulting system yielded values A₁ and B₁ which were used to calculate the reflection coefficient, (B₁/A₁)². The conclusions obtained from these results stated that the particle would be reflected by the barrier when E

Effect Of Tire Pressure On Efficiency, Miles Mullins

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Many people ignore tire pressure in their day-to-day lives. In a country striving for maximum efficiency, neglecting to maintain correct tire pressure can noticeably affect the amount of horsepower required to overcome the drag forces due to tire/roadway friction. In order to quantify these horsepower changes, 21 test trials were conducted by allowing a test vehicle to coast from 50 mph down to 20 mph at pressures ranging from 50 psi to 20 psi. After compiling the results, it was shown that lower tire pressures increased the horsepower necessary to propel the automobile.

Power Consumption Of A Mosfet, Frederick Selkey

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

A MOSFET is defined as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor. These electrical components are combined or integrated to form control and logic functions for laptop and desktop computers, power controls in printing devices, motor controls and are used in many other electrical circuits. All electrical devices consume electrical power based on current and voltage. For this paper we calculated the power consumption of a Toshiba 2SK3563 MOSFET during its triode mode by finding the area under the current-voltage characteristic curve.

Finding The Area Of An Irregularly Shaped Room, Justin Walls

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This experiment utilized integration in a practical sense by determining the floor area of an irregularly shaped room. By taking the integral summation of three sections formed from semi-circles, the desired areas as well as positive results were found. The final data determined that the floor area of the irregularly shaped room was around 580 square feet.

Pasteurization Of Milk, Alejandro Barbosa Alzate

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

We determined the time it takes milk, which is heated from 60°F to 150°F, to achieve pasteurization and compared this result with the standard pasteurization process of heating milk at a constant temperature of 150°F for 30 minutes. Instead of directly quantifying the bacterium population, we considered the bacteria to milk concentration ratio. To solve for the unknown time, we equated the final bacterium concentration ratio achieved through both varied temperature and constant temperature. After equating the final pasteurization concentrations we were unable to find an analytical solution, so we used numerical techniques to find the unknown heating time.

Optimization Of A Chemical Reaction Train, Bahar Sansar

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This project consists of the optimization of a chemical reactor train. The reactor considered here is the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), one of the reactor models used in engineering. Given the design equation for the CSTR and the cost function for a reactor, the following values are determined; the optimum number of reactors in the reaction train, the volume of each reactor and the total cost.

Canal Lock Displacement, Rick Blanton

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

In this project we determine the time needed for a pump to raise the water level in a canal lock in order for a boat to continue upstream. Using calculus methods and elementary physics, it was determined that it would take roughly 5 minutes for a single 60 horsepower pump to raise the water level the required 10 feet. We conclude that the lock is fairly efficient but offer some suggestions to increase the time efficiency of the lock system.

Brazilian Pepper's Impact On Barrier Island Biodiversity, Grayson Mccormick

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The Brazilian pepper is an invasive plant responsible for destruction of habitats of species native to Florida. We attempted to measure the impact of the Brazilian pepper on native plants by studying how it affects the biodiversity of Honeymoon Island, one of Florida's barrier islands. For this purpose we determined the population sizes of the Brazilian pepper along with five other species of plants on two quadrats of land laid out in Honeymoon Island State Park. Both Simpson's Index of Diversity and Shannon-Wiener Index were used to estimate the biodiversity and assess the impact of the Brazilian pepper on the …

Automated Determination Of A Package's Center Of Mass, Ayaz Hemani

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

In order to address the issue of increased efficiency and better planning for parcel shipments, an automated computer program was developed in Microsoft Excel that calculates center of mass and moments of mass with greater speed and reliability than currently implemented systems. This simple program requires only a variable density function and limits of integration for a given object as input within the spreadsheet system. Once the required input has been provided, a series of chain calculations, with the help of a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) script, is able to process the input, which is done through integration and …

Population Dynamics Of Free-Roaming Cats In Florida's Lee County, Benjamin Taylor

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

We investigate whether the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program can be effectively used to control the population of free-roaming cats in Florida's Lee County. We do this by estimating the number of cats that must be spayed/neutered in order to keep the population from increasing.

Inverse Kinematics, Joel Sereno

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Inverse kinematics is the process of converting a Cartesian point in space into a set of joint angles to more efficiently move the end effector of a robot to a desired orientation. This project investigates the inverse kinematics of a robotic hand with fingers under various scenarios. Assuming the parameters of a provided robot, a general equation for the end effector point was calculated and used to plot the region of space that it can reach. Further, the benefits obtained from the addition of a prismatic joint versus an extra variable angle joint were considered. The results confirmed that having …

Light Attenuation At Molasses Reef, Ashley Earls

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Estimating the amount of light available at different depths of the ocean is important for gaining a better understanding of coral reefs. It is especially useful to be able to get such estimates without having to perform direct measurements. Although accurate, the direct measurements are costly, time consuming, and usually limited to relatively small areas of interest.

One statistic that could be useful for estimating the amount of available light is the rate at which it declines with depth (the rate of light attenuation). In this project, this rate is calculated for four different wavelengths using data for 30m water …

Motion Of A Pendulum, Jared Wynn

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The objective of this project is to derive and solve the equation of motion for a pendulum swinging at small angles in one dimension. The pendulum may be either a simple pendulum like a ball hanging from a string or a physical pendulum like a pendulum on a clock. For simplicity, we only considered small rotational angles so that the equation of motion becomes a harmonic oscillator.

Optimal Location Of An Oil Storage Facility, Giovanni Quiel

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Given three oil drilling sites, we devise a method to determine the optimal location for a storage facility such that the total length of pipeline required to connect each site to the facility is minimized. First we represent the total distance of piping as the sum of the individual distances between the storage facility and each oil well. From this, both the optimal overall pipeline length and the location of the storage facility which realizes the minimal length can be determined through the first and second partial derivative tests.

Total Number Of Synapses In The Adult Human Neocortex, Thai Nguyen

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The brain is composed of glial cells and neurons where synapses form connections between neurons and other cells. Since synapses are very small, so either a light or electron microscope is required to see them. Unlike other mammals, synapses in the human brain deteriorate rapidly upon death making them difficult to study. This project constructs a simple model for the number of synapses in the human neocortex by age and sex based on the amount of neurons. This hypothetical model can also be used to study the impact of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia that are marked by …

Stormwater Management System Drawdown, Ahmad Chehab

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

This project concerns the computations required to determine the drawdown for the retention/detention of ponds. Drawdown refers to the volume of water in a pond that decreases as the water flows out. The falling head equation has many applications and can be used to calculate the drawdown of a pond through various shaped openings. In particular, we analyze four outflow structures: a rectangular-notch weir, a v-notch weir, a round orifice, and an underdrain. For each instance, we modify the falling head equation to reflect the shape of the respective orifice.

Radiographic Imagery Of A Variable Density 3d Object, Justin Stottlemyer

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The purpose of this project is to develop a mathematical model to study 4D (three spatial dimensions plus density) shapes using 3D projections. In the model, the projection is represented as a function that can be applied to data produced by a radiation detector. The projection is visualized as a three-dimensional graph where x and y coordinates represent position and the z coordinate corresponds to the object's density and thickness. Contour plots of such 3D graphs can be used to construct traditional 2D radiographic images.