Use Pythagorean theorem to measure topography

Build and learn

Students start their exploration of topography by examining a digital proof of the Pythagorean theorem in Excel. Next, they develop a proposed transportation plan on paper connecting important aspects of park’s features and assets. They then use the concepts learned from the proof to calculate each road segment distance and build tools that can be used to digitize distances and angles for entry into Excel.

Connect your tools

The student-built tools for measuring distance and angles are made of cardboard or LEGO^® bricks and a digital rotary encoder. They are connected to Excel via a microcontroller and are used to transfer points from a student created map. Students need to measure precise distance and angle measurements in order to accurately translate the points from their physical two-dimensional map into a digital two-dimensional and three-dimensional representation of their national park in Excel and Paint 3D.

Visualize the data

This lesson uses a custom Excel workbook that includes a tool calibration worksheet plus two additional worksheets for investigating and visualizing live data. The first worksheet allows students to use their angle finder and distance wheel tool to transfer data into Excel and recreate their two-dimensional map digitally within the worksheet.  The second worksheet allows the students to start thinking about height and slope of mountain passes that are created in the national park. With this, students can then visualize and calculate the height of the mountains using the Pythagorean theorem. Once the lesson is completed, students are encouraged to export their digital two-dimensional maps into Paint 3D and begin designing in a three-dimensional environment.