Theo Symonds

05/06/2015
Mr. Kiker 1st Period

Architect Analytical Report; Hyperbolas

Nuclear Power Plant Silo

In the early morning of August 6th, 1945, a project that was three
years in the making, was finally executed. The Manhattan Project,
which built and dropped the first atomic bomb, definitively ended
World War II. The project didnt just end a war; it had a major effect on
world politics and scientific advancements in the nuclear field.
Coincidentally, the building structures in the nuclear field were built
with algebraic conic sections, of which our architect team was tasked
to find, and model. We decided upon the use of a hyperbola in a
nuclear power plant silo. We modeled the hyperbola with our own
physical model of a nuclear power plant silo.

With prevalent nuclear proliferation in the time period following

World War II, many nations sought to improve their nuclear programs.
To do this, they built nuclear power plants for research, and power.
Scientists found that they needed to have a cooling system, so that
Uranium atoms couldnt react, go out of control, and cause a nuclear

meltdown. They built giant cooling towers, to deal with possible

meltdowns. These giant towers, known as silos, were designed to be
built tall, and sturdy. The scientists used a hyperbolic shape, because
they found that it was very supportive of the tall and heavy silos, and
could withstand wind. This allowed silos to be built wider and taller,
providing for a better cooling system. More importantly, the hyperbolic
structure reassured scientists that the towers could not fall down, and
could be useful for the cool down system.

To build our model of the silo, we undertook many steps. After

writing an equation for our hyperbolic silo ((x^2)/100)((y^2)/400)=1 we substituted in numbers into the y-value (height of
silo), to find x (the diameter of the silo at the certain height). This gave
us all the necessary measurements to start building our model. First,
we shaped a chicken wire fence into a cylinder-like shape. With this, we
cut fringes at the top and bottom of the chicken wire fence, to flare out
the top and bottom; giving us a hyperbolic skeleton of a power plant
silo. The next thing we did, was attempt to paper-mache newspaper
clippings onto the structure and let it dry. However, we realized that
the paper-mache made the silo appear to be lumpy, and aesthetically
displeasing. But paramount to the appearance was that the papermache paste had turned into bread, because of the presence of flour
in the paste. So, to deal with this obstacle, we built another skeleton,

and wrapped several ACE Bandages around it. This texture gave us a
smoother texture. Next, we spray-painted the wrapped bandages with
a metallic grey color. With the sights of finishing close, we painted our
models pedestal green (for grass), glued down miniature trees, and
staked a miniature wooden sign with our names on it. To finish, we
bought dry ice (to simulate steam), and created a PowerPoint, which
served as our written piece of the mathematics behind our hyperbolic
silo model.
We did the math for our project, now its your turn! Here is a
practice problem for you to try out:
A new power plant is to be built in Kazakhstan. The architects
told the builders the height of the silo (100 meters), and the
radius at the center (10 meters). However, the architects failed
to mention the radius of the base. Now, the builders dont
know how wide to start building. Can you help them find the
radius of the base, and then find the circumference of the base
so that they know how wide to build?
First, we put our hyperbolas center in the middle of the x and y axes,
and then we need to substitute the a, b, and y value into the horizontal
hyperbola equation. We know that a=10 (the radius of the center), and
b=50 (height divided by two). Then, we need to find the x value, which
will be the radius, by substituting in our height into the y value; the
height can be determined by the absolute value of the hyperbolic

function meters, which lies under the x-axis And it is 50 meters. So,
our equation goes as follows: ((x^2)/100)-((50^2)/2500)=1. Lets go by
steps:
((x^2)/100)-(2500/2500)=1
((x^2)/100)=2

=>

=>

((x^2)/100)-(1)=1

(x^2)=200 =>

=>

x=14.14

This means that the radius of the base of the silo is 14.14 meters.
Now, we can use the circumference equation (2)(pi)(radius) to
find the circumference.
(2)(3.14)(14.14)=88.8 meters.
Thank you for you help! Now the builders know to start building the silo
with a radius of 14.14 meters, and a circumference of 88.8 meters.

Works Cited

1. Nuclear proliferation
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/peace/nuclear_weapons/readmo
re.html

2. Use of hyperbolas in cooling towers.

http://www.pleacher.com/mp/mlessons/calculus/apphyper.html

3. How tall are power plants?

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/the-nuclear-cooling-tower.html