| Why is geometry important? You may be thinking to | | | | docks with the International Space Station, it's the |
| yourself, "When will I ever use this stuff? Why do I | | | | result of weeks of geometric calculations to make |
| need to know this?" Geometry is an important | | | | sure that the shuttle leaves Earth and reaches the |
| science that not only influences a great many other | | | | station at the right height and speed. There's only so |
| sciences, but your everyday life as well. If you feel | | | | much fuel available for the Space Shuttle, and there's |
| like you've drawn yourself into a corner with | | | | no rocket fuel stations in space, so a minor error in |
| geometry, the following will help get you out. | | | | those calculations could mean scrapping a mission. |
| Geometry and Science | | | | Geometry in Life |
| People need to learn geometry because of the way | | | | What if you're not interested in becoming an |
| it affects us on a day-to-day basis. Having a grasp of | | | | architect or Space Shuttle pilot? Geometry can be |
| geometry constructions helps us better understand | | | | used in other practices as well. If you're into sports, |
| the world around us. Whether you're playing a game | | | | what you may refer to as a football is actually an |
| of Tetris or piloting a spaceship, you're using principles | | | | oblong spheroid. The specific shape of a football |
| of geometry to guide your decision making. | | | | affects the way it reacts when tossed. |
| Let's say you want to be an architect. It's much | | | | Understanding this can give you a better edge of |
| more than just designing buildings that look cool. You | | | | throwing that perfect spiral. |
| need to know precisely how shapes and angles fit | | | | If you like baseball, you've seen geometry at work. |
| together to maintain stability. After all, you don't | | | | The angle of a pitch and the angle where the bat |
| want to design a house that crumbles. Geometry is | | | | meets the ball makes the difference between a high |
| what is keeping a roof over your head right now. | | | | popup to the infield and a deep shot for a home run. |
| Take a look at a house that's being built, and you'll | | | | Pool games are all about geometry. You need to |
| see angles everywhere. Architects, engineers and | | | | know your angles so you can bank shots across the |
| builders use these angles to keep a house stable in | | | | table and understand where your cue ball will rest at |
| high winds and to withstand the weight of everything | | | | the end of the shot. |
| inside. | | | | Geometry is a complex science, and many people |
| Perhaps you're interested in becoming a technician for | | | | don't have an everyday need for its most advanced |
| NASA. Physics is a science that draws upon analytical | | | | formulas. Understanding basic geometry is essential |
| geometry to calculate shuttle launches and missions. | | | | for everyone, because you never know when the |
| The orbit of the moon around the Earth is a | | | | ability to understand an angle or figure out the area |
| geometric equation that is essential in navigating to | | | | of a room will come in handy. |
| and from our only natural satellite. When a shuttle | | | | |