A Potpourri of Science Ideas

Group Mini Teach

Finding Pi

Foreman, Dorothy              Joplin School

Objective:

To measure the circumference and the diameter of various cylinders,
and to use the ratio C/D to find pi.

Apparatus Needed:

metric rulers, string, graph paper, tape, cylinders of various sizes.

Recommended Strategy:

Roll the cylinders one complete revolution and measure the distance 
traveled. Use string to measure the diameter.  Make a data table. Make 
a pi graph.  Use the pi graph to calculate the constant ratio pi. 
(Students should discover a direct proportion between the variables).