Control the motion of the ball: enter your parameters, then click 'GO':

x(t) =       y(t) =
CONTROL

To explore parametric equations, vary the parameters in the equations systematically and look at the effect in the table and graph. For example:
  1. Keep one equation contant and vary the other, e.g. x(t) = c and y(t) = a + bt - try different a, b and c values
  2. Two linear equations a + bt and c + dt and vary the parameters from negatibe through 0 to positive.
  3. One linear and one quadratic and vary the parameters ...
  4. Two quadratics ...
  5. x(t) = 15*cos(t); y(t) = 15*sin(t)
  6. x(t) = 20 + 15*cos(t); y(t) = 20 + 15*sin(t)
  7. x(t) = 20 + 20*cos(t); y(t) = 20 + 10*sin(t)
  8. x(t) = 20 + 20*cos(t-7); y(t) = 20 + 20*sin(t)