Scaling the Pyramids Webquest


The Pyramids




Pyramids were originally built in Ancient Egypt to serve as tombs or graves to house and protect the body of a pharaoh for the afterlife and as monument to honor the pharaoh.  The Pyramids consist of a square base with four triangular sides that meet at a point.  Pyramids were made from huge blocks of stone. The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Cheops, located near present-day Cairo, is the largest surviving pyramid.  It covers an area of thirteen acres and is made up of two and a quarter million blocks.  Each block weighs five thousand pounds on average. 

The immensity of the task of building the Pyramids have fascinated mankind for generations.  There are many mysteries and unanswered questions, including:  Where did they come from?  Who built them?  Why were they built where they are?

In this webquest you will look at some of these questions.  It will be your job to research some of these topics, perform some mathematical analysis and write a summary on the applicability of scale factors to real life.
Link to the PBS Nova, "Scaling the Pyramids" website to perform mathematical analysis on the data provided, construct a scale model of the Great Pyramid, and compose a short summary on scale factors.

You will work individually to complete this project.  This project should take approximately two class periods to do the calculations and write your essay.  You will be provided the outline of the great pyramid, however THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SCALE MODEL IS HOMEWORK.  YOU MUST CUT,  DIMENSIONS, DECORATE, AND CONSTRUCT THE SCALE MODEL ON YOUR OWN OUTSIDE OF CLASS.

Your assignment includes all of the following:

1) Calculating equivalent weights.

2) Calculating area and distance.

3) Constructing a scale model of the Great Pyramid, labeling all outer dimensions with scale measurements on one side and actual measurements on another side.  Link for the outline of the Great Pyramid. 

4) Find the Scale Height of Eiffel Tower and Leaning Tower of Pisa using a scale factor of 1cm = 30 m.  The Scale Height of the Great Pyramids, Statue of Liberty and the Sears Tower in Chicago are given in the linked table.


5) Write a short essay on the use of scale factors and their applicability to real life.  In particular, explain why your understanding of how to use scale factors is important to you as a person giving at least one example of a time where you have used scale factors, or site a specific situation where scale factors can be used in a real life situation.Your essay should be one to two paragraphs long with a minimum of three and a maximum of ten sentences.  Sentences must be complete starting with a capital letter and ending with a period.  In mathematics it is important to be both detailed and succinct ( precise and concise, "to the point" -- good SAT word). 

6) Take the challenge on the Ancient Egypt Website.

7) Present your essay on scale factors to the class.
  1. Your use of class time.
  2. The mathematical analyses used for the project.
  3. The construction of your scale model.
  4. Your essay on the use of scale factors and their applicability to real life.
  5. Class presentation of your essay.