So since the start of the school year in math we have been working on a trigonometry unit. We learned about ways to use trig ratios and how to use them in the real world.

To get introduced to the project we would work on later in the unit we did a little lab to see what the ideal angle of a solar panel is to the sun or a light source. We found that if you can get your solar panel to be 90 degrees to the light source you get the optimal energy out of the solar panel.

We then had to transfer this into real life with a hypothetical situation. We had to choose a location, find what the ideal angle for a season or month or however long you want to the sun, and then finally create it.

I chose to make a log cabin at the top of Whistler Mountain. I found online that the angles for each month of the winter went from 18 degrees to 32 degrees. So I chose to go right in the middle with a 24 degree angle.

The assignment required us to calculate the scale for a 10x10x10m, 12x12x12m and 15x15x15m house. For my model I decided to model the biggest of these size options using a 1cm:1m ratio. This meant the length, width and height of my house was 15cm. To make it look like a realistic Whistler cabin, I wanted to make it look like a Gingerbread-style house, so I made the roof strongly slanted.

After building the model, I used trig ratios to calculate that the natural angle of the roof was at 37 degrees to the ground. I knew the solar panel needed to be at a 24 degree angle, so I had to build a support structure that would alter the angle of the solar panel. To fit on the roof I made the solar panel 10cm long. I could then use trig to calculate the measurements of the support panel, based on the knowledge that I needed a 13 degree angle in the lowest corner and then longest edge was 10cm. This gave me a support triangle which was 9.75x10x2.25cm. Once I added this support the solar panel was angled at the correct 24 degree angle.

To finish off the project we were asked to make some form of marketing materials for our house. I created a brochure for my cabin which emphasized the energy efficiency that would come from the solar panel. I based this brochure on the flyers that are typically seen in Whistler shops and restaurants to promote vacation rentals.

Overall this was an interesting project. My first attempt was poor as I hadn’t understood the level of the requirements. However, once I started over with the Whistler theme the project was more fun. I had found the math used in trig to be quite straightforward, but it was interesting to actually apply it to a real model.