SUGGESTED STUDENT ACTIVITIES FOR FINDING PI

SUGGESTED STUDENT ACTIVITIES FOR FINDING PI

 Students can work in pairs –groups of  even 10 or 20 can take part in the playground activities-

 

Four types of measurements[ mt]   are suggested

A  [i]   mt of circumference [c]  and radius [r]  

     [ii]  mt of circumference [c]  and   diameter [d]

B  [i]  mt of area [A]  and radius   

     [ii] mt of area [A]   and  diameter

C  mt of   volume [V]  and  the parameters needed for using appropriate formulas

 

D  simple cut and paste method given below

A simple fun activity

Draw a fairly large circle  on a cardboard of medium thickness  [ say 10 cm radius] –draw diameters such that the circle is divided into equal sector shapes [ 12 or 16 or 24 sectors ok]-

A sector  looks like a piece of pizza or pie or birthday cake i.e conical shape---. cut so many pieces – arrange  them in the form of a rectangle-    measure the length[ l]  of this constructed rectangle- breadth of the rectangle is the same as the radius[r]   of the starting circle – divide l by r to get pi = [l/r]

Teachers may show  stepwise pictures to students .[tip for the teachers : cut the last sector into 2 equal small sectors and take them to opposite ends of the rectangle to give you s decent looking rectangle]

 

Activities below are indicated by the types mentioned above-

*  type A[i] uses the formula  pi = c/2r  -- type A[ii] uses the formula  pi = c/d

** type B[i] uses the formula  pi = A/[rxr]--- type B[ii] uses the formula  pi =4A/[dxd]

 ** type C formulas depend on the shape of the volume e.g cylinder, sphere

 

LIST OF ACTIVITIES

1         circles drawn on plain paper  with a compass – known radius

2         circles drawn on graph  paper  with a compass – known radius

3         circles drawn on playground with an improvised compass – known radius

4         half circle drawn on a wall with an improvised compass – known radius

5         playground fun with human hand-held circle – both r and d using ropes

 

[1 to 5 belong type A[i]  using the formula given above]

 

6         circles drawn on plain paper  using circular objects –mt of diameter [dia]

7         circles drawn on graph  paper  using circular objects – dia mt

8         Circles drawn on playground using large  circular objects – dia mt   e.g large wheel. Big drum standing- 

9         roll a tin or dabba  on the table and measure distance [l]-  measure dia using improvised vernier calipers –stick a thin tape or a thread on the dabba to easily count the number of rotations[n]   – here  c= l/n

10      Do 9 above outdoors – use a tyre or wheel or cycle etc.

11      Do 10 above using a drum – have fun kicking the drum carefully between two straight lines – don’t forget to put a  mark on  the side of the drum

12     Take a solid pipe – tightly wind a wire or twine around it – compact the wire/ string  leaving no space between rings- count the number of rings [n]- unwind the wire /string and measure the length [l] – find dia of the pipe using a vernier – see 9

13     Go to the packing department- take a roll of cellotape or any thin adhesive tape- make a mark simultaneously [ meaning ‘at the same time’ ‘at one stroke’] in many layers by pricking a pin radially- unwind the tape and stick it on the side of the table [ i.e along a perfect straight line] –measure the total length [l]- number or rotations [n = pricked points ] – see 9

14     This is special for senior iti students -  ask your teacher if he can give you a gear which converts circular motion [=rotation, revolution] to linear motion – use the arrangement  to measure c.  Diameter to be separately found – method similar to 9 to 13 above

 

[6 to 14  belong type A[ii]  using the formula given above]

 

     15   Draw circles on a graph sheet , using compass – physically count  the small squares ,        thus    finding the area--- radius is known while drawing the circle – use formula  [[teachers/ volunteers can help in square counting method]

16.         In 15 above  another person can draw concentric circles and do as before

 

[15 to 16  belong type B[i]  using the formula given above]

 

17. Draw circles on a graph sheet , using available [perfectly] circular objects – physically count  the small squares --- measure diameter-  teachers/ volunteers can help to get the dia from the graph paper itself.

18. If there is a large room  with tiled floor , 17 can be done – all square tiles is preferred--,

 

[17 to 18   belong type B[ii]  using the formula given above]

 

19.  Volume of a cylinder=  [pi]x [ rxr] x [h] use this formula to calculate pi – a calculator may be needed.

2o   use water  and measuring  jar/cylinder  to find the volume --- many cylindrical objects can be found  around you-  tiffin or lunch box, water bottle, 

21.  Volume of a sphere = [4/3] x [pi] x [ rxrxr] – this formula  can be used – find fairly spherical shapes which can be filled with water – e.g  binthige,  water filled balloon. Rubber ball cut into half

22.  volume ofa very long cylinder- take a garden hose pipe [,the  longer the better]—fill up and carefully pour water into a bucket – carefully measure the volume of this water – find the INTERNAL  DIA  by a suitable method- [teachers/ volunteers can help in this]- stretch and find the length of the pipe [l]-   in cylinder formuls use l inplace of h

23.  Do 22 above – find CROSS SECTION AREA , INTERNAL, by imprint method [ or any other]

 

[19 to 23-  belong type C-  use proper formulas]

 

 


SETHU BANDHANA TRUST

(FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND YOUTH) Reg. No. 74/ 01-02.  80-G approved

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