Part 2 – Individual Task:

Subject: VCE Mathematical Methods – Unit 2

Topic: Circular functions
Assessment Task: Application Task
Details: Part 1 – Group Task:
Part 2 – Individual Task:
 55 minutes writing time
 32 marks available
 Technology Active (Open Book)
Instructions: i. Answer all questions in the space provided
ii. In all questions where a numerical answer is required, an exact value must be
given unless otherwise specified.
iii. In questions where more than one mark is available, appropriate working must
be shown.
iv. Unless otherwise indicated, the diagram in this book are not drawn to scale.

Question 1 (12 marks):

The Geelong City Council decide to create the Geelong Star which is to be a simple Ferris Wheel, similar to the
Melbourne Star. Your job is to determine a suitable equation of a circular function that describes that height, ℎ meters
above the ground, of a carriage at the point 𝑃, 𝑡 minutes after 𝟏𝟏: 𝟎𝟎 am that satisfies the guidelines below.

1. The Ferris Wheel must reach a maximum height greater than 120 meters but less than 150 meters.
2. The Ferris Wheel must have a minimum clearance of between 8 and 10 meters to allow for traffic to drive
under the wheel.
3. The duration of the ride should be between 20 and 30 minutes.
4. At 𝑡 = 0 the point 𝑃 should be at a minimum.

Figure 1 - A concept drawing of the wheel for the Geelong Star

VCE Mathematical Methods – Unit 2 (2016) Page 1 of 5 Circular Functions – Application Task (BPO)
One student develops the following cosine function to design the Geelong Star according to the guidelines above:
𝜋𝑡
ℎ𝑆 (𝑡) = −65 cos ( ) + 74
13
(a) For the equation ℎ𝑆 (𝑡):

i. State the period.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

ii. State the range of the function using interval notation.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

iii. Graph the cosine curve over one period of the function, clearly labelling any axial intercept(s),
maximum(s), minimums(s) and endpoint(s) with their coordinates.

_____________________________________________________________________ (3 marks)

Now it is your turn to develop an equation to satisfy the Geelong City Council guidelines (as stated above).

(b) After some research you decide that a cosine graph will be the easiest function to use. In fact, you know that
it is possible to describe this journey of the point 𝑃 using an equation of the form ℎ𝐺 (𝑡) = 𝐴 cos(𝑛𝑡) + 𝑐.

𝜋
i. Show that for a ride on the Geelong Star lasting exactly 20 minutes, 𝑛 = 10.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

ii. State one set of suitable values for 𝐴 and 𝑐.

Hint: Sketch your function to check that it satisfies the guidelines listed above.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

iii. Hence, write the full equation for your version of ℎ𝐺 (𝑡).

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

VCE Mathematical Methods – Unit 2 Page 2 of 5 Circular Functions – Application Task (BPO)
 (c) For your equation ℎ𝐺 (𝑡) determine:

i. The amount of time it takes for the point 𝑃 to reach its highest distance above the ground.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

ii. The amount of time, correct to 2 decimal places, that the height, above ground, of the Geelong Star is
greater than the Melbourne Star. Recall the Melbourne star has a maximum height of 120 meters.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ (3 marks)

Question 2 (12 marks):

One particular design of the Geelong Star promises uninterrupted views of the horizon up to 70 kilometres away.
However, the ability to see that far will be dependent on the time of day. On Monday the distance, 𝑑 in kilometres, of
visibility 𝑡 hours after the ride opens at 𝟏𝟏: 𝟎𝟎 am is given by the equation:

𝜋(𝑡 + 2)
𝑑(𝑡) = 50 + 20 sin ( )
12

(a) Find the distance of visibility when the ride opens at 11: 00 am.

__________________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

(b) At what time is the distance of visibility at its maximum?

__________________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

(c) At what time is the distance of visibility at its minimum?

__________________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

(d) Melbourne’s CBD is located 65 kilometres away. Considering one cycle:

i. At what time of the day, to the nearest minute, is it first possible to view Melbourne’s CBD

_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

ii. At what time of the day, to the nearest minute, is the last view of Melbourne’s CBD available?

_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

(e) State the sequence of transformations that transforms the graph of 𝑦 = 50 + 20 sin(𝑡) to 𝑑(𝑡).

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
VCE Mathematical Methods – Unit 2 Page 3 of 5 Circular Functions – Application Task (BPO)
 (f) Sketch the graph of 𝑑(𝑡) for the 24 hour period commencing at 11: 00 am, clearly labelling any axial
intercept(s), maximum(s), minimum(s) and endpoint(s) with their coordinates.

_____________________________________________________________________ (3 marks)

VCE Mathematical Methods – Unit 2 Page 4 of 5 Circular Functions – Application Task (BPO)
Question 3 (8 marks):
The number of cars, 𝑁, parked at the Geelong Star at a time, 𝑡 hours, after 𝟏𝟎: 𝟎𝟎 am can be modelled by the equation
𝜋
𝑁(𝑡) = 20 tan(4𝑡) for 𝑡 ∈ [0, )
8
(a) State the number of cars, 𝑁, in the car park at 10: 00 am.

___________________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

(b) State the time, correct to the nearest minute, when there are 40 cars in the car park.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

(c) The carpark is full when there are 120 cars in the carpark. State the time, correct to the nearest minute, when
the car park is full.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

(d) Sketch the graph of 𝑁(𝑡) from 10: 00 am until the car park is full, clearly labelling any axial intercept(s) and
endpoint(s) with their coordinates correct to 2 decimal places.

_____________________________________________________________________ (3 marks)

End of Part 2.

VCE Mathematical Methods – Unit 2 Page 5 of 5 Circular Functions – Application Task (BPO)