Real World Math & Science

University of Massachusetts > STEM > January 2009 | Real World Math and Science

ALGEBRA IN THE REAL WORLD | Guitar Frets

Music is full of rhythms and patterns.  This activity explores why patterns might be just as important to making musical instruments as they are in making music.

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ADVANCED CONCEPT | Flying on Mars

To fly around on the surface of Mars, a traditional aircraft would need to travel at speeds of over 250 MPH just to stay aloft in the very thin atmosphere. Taking off and landing on the rocky terrain for sample inspection and gathering would be nearly impossible. So what's one solution? Check this out!

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PROBLEM SOLVING | The Horse Doctor

A successful professional in any career must be an expert observer, and in no field is this truer than health care. It is especially important to veterinarian Dr. Dina Andrews, whose patients can't talk.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | The Wind Business

The business of wind farming is booming but, as these three professionals explain, it's not as simple as sticking a pole in the ground and watching the turbines turn.  It can take years to plan and engineer these state-of-the-art wind farms. It's a problem-solving process that draws on an understanding of algebra, geometry, kinetic energy, electronics and just about everything in between in order to turn one of our most abundant natural resources into a viable business.

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ENGINEERING SOUND | Cancelling Noise

Dr. Amar Bose tells the fascinating story of how he invented the "Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones" and how it took math to make it work.

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ALGEBRA IN THE REAL WORLD | Aquarium Makers

You had better be sure your math is right if you're going to put 5,000 gallons of water, fish, coral and sand inside a house or office!  Introduce your students to Nic Tiemens and Joe Pineda.  They love the challenge of recreating a slice of the ocean indoors.  Day in and day out, they use volume calculations, temperature, measurement and lots of science to create these beautiful habitats.  Be sure to check out the downloadable classroom activity titled Aquariums Under Pressure, located just below the main movie.

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