Computer Simulations
Sally Suehappy's Bungee Jump
Case Facts:
On the evening of March 8, 1999, Sally Suehappy was brought to the
hospital with a possible concussion from hitting the ground after a bad
Bungee Jump. She is suing the Happy-Go-Lucky Carnival for damages. Mrs.
Suehappy signed an agreement at the Carnival stating that she weighed
less than 80 kg, the carnival's limit. You are a forensic expert, and
have been asked to testify in regards to your findings. Use the
following information and the Bungee Jumping Model to decide how you
will testify:
- Jump Platform was believed to be 73 meters high
- Suehappy claimed to be 79 kilograms
- Suehappy actually weighs 80 kilograms
The lawyers will ask you these questions:
Is the platform actually 73 m?
If the woman was actually 79 kg and she had not been mistaken about her
weight, would the jump be safe?
Who do you think should be help accountable for Suehappy's unsuccessful
bungee jump?
(Note: You will only need to change the platform height and mass in the
model)
Who Spread the Flu?
Case Facts:
The week after Spring Break all 500 students and teachers at Contagious
High School in Contagious, Maryland went home sick with influenza (the
flu). It has been discovered that three students came back after Spring
Break, each had a different infectious flu. The rates at which each of
the flus can infect another person (Infection Rate) and the rates at
which a person with the flu gets better (Recovery Rate) are commonly
known for each of these strains. You have been asked to determine which
of the three originally infected students was the source of the flu that
was so virulent it affected nearly everyone in the school.
| Student Name |
Flu Strain |
Infection Rate |
Recovery Rate |
| Bobby Getwels |
Ick Flu |
.002 |
.5 |
| Amess Besick |
Plu Flu |
.001 |
.5 |
| Majorly Ruddy |
Gacky Flu |
.08 |
.2 |
Which student had the flu that caused everyone to get sick?
Approximately how many students would be infected by Bobby Getwels if he
was the only source of infection? by Amess Besick?
What is the relationship between the recovery rate and the shape of the
line for 'recovered'?
What is the relationship between the infection fate and the shape of the
line for 'infected'?
Can you predict which flu will infect more people: one with an Infection
rate of .001 or .002?
Online Flu
Model
(Note: In addition to changing the infection and recovery rates in the model, you may also need to change the number of infected and susceptible people.)