Tag: MATH 499

Jackson Findlay

Game Theory, Economics and Tennis

This presentation provides an overview of game theory, an influential branch of mathematical economics that studies strategic interactions and decision making.  I introduce some basic tools used by game theorists, including strict and weak dominance and iterated deletion procedures, and discuss applications ranging from auction theory to sports. 

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

P003

1:30 – 2 PM

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Mackenzie Hunton

Gamification in the Math Classroom

A recent trend in K-12 education is gamification, or the use of games to motivate learning in the math classroom. This presentation surveys some practices and the current research into their effectiveness as a teaching tool.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

P003

2 – 2:30 PM

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Nicolas Cazares

Modern Approaches to Spinal Cord Repair

Spinal cords are one of the most sensitive parts of the human body and damage to them can massively hinder one’s quality of life. This presentation will go over medical research of spinal cord repair. The first section is an overview of what the spinal cord is including, cellular make-up, biological function, and detailed anatomy. The second section of this presentation will discuss the history of research within this field dating back to the 1960s. Following this I will look at modern approaches to spinal cord repair and discuss the pros and cons of each method.

MATH 499

Brian Carrigan

P103

1 – 1:30 PM

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Tiffany Hilkey

Infinity in Mathematics

I will be doing a comprehensive survey of infinity in mathematics. Infinity is much larger and more complex than human calculation can handle, but it happens to appear quite often in mathematics. It is introduced as a limit in Calculus, and this is usually the first real encounter with it. Looking at set theory and infinite sets reveals that infinity actually comes in different sizes, even though it is infinite. There are still things that mathematicians can’t figure out about infinity, and that goes to show how complex it is.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

P114

Noon – 12:30 PM

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Kevin Kaelin

Alternative Power Sources: Electrifying Commercial Aircraft 

In a world with an ever-increasing demand for transportation, solutions are needed to limit the amount of pollution generated by vehicles.  One solution for limiting emissions from vehicles is to make them electric.  This research seeks to answer this question: is an electrically powered jet engine feasible for commercial aircraft?  This project takes a standard CFM56-7B24 turbofan jet engine that powers a Boeing 737-800 plane and explores the conceptual use of electric motors to drive the fan and compressor assembly.  The overall weight of this concept is compared to the maximum operating weight of the Boeing 737-800.  The total amount of kilowatt-hours required is calculated as well as the total weight of batteries needed to satisfy the energy requirements of this concept.  Based on the findings of this research: current battery densities are too low to provide a weight-effective solution to petroleum-based jet fuel.   

MATH 499, Capstone 

Brian Carrigan 

P103 

2:30 – 3 PM 

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Jonathan Messiers

A Bridge to Space: The Mechanics and Design Considerations for a Space Elevator

Achieving orbit is currently an extremely expensive and resource-heavy venture. Current rockets cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 to lift a single kilogram of payload to low earth orbit. A space elevator may be able to lift a kilogram to orbit for as little as $200. A space elevator is a cable anchored at the equator that extends into space past geostationary orbit, using the centrifugal force of Earth’s rotation to hold itself upright under tension. Such a cable may be constructed using materials with extremely high strength-to-weight ratios. The overall design of a space elevator consists of the cable itself, a counterweight to suspend the cable via centrifugal force, climbers to deliver payload to and from orbit, and a base station anchoring the cable to the Earth somewhere along the equator. Craft released from the space elevator at a height of 53,000 kilometers would be at escape velocity, allowing them to reach other celestial bodies without the thousands of tons of fuel and stages conventional rockets require for the same velocity. Challenges faced include weather conditions within the atmosphere, the effects of solar radiation on the cable, collisions with orbital debris, cable oscillations, research and development costs, and political complications.

MATH 499, Capstone

Brian Carrigan

SPS 100

2:30 – 3 PM

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