How Pi Makes NASA/JPL Go 'Round

In honor of Pi Day, March 14 (or 3.14), 2013, the JPL Education Office has released an infographic highlighting some of the ways scientists and engineers at the laboratory use pi in their daily work. For example, scientists can use pi (along with mass and radius) to calculate the density of an asteroid and its material makeup.

The infographic also features a pi- and planetary-themed mathematics challenge for students that asks them to find various measurements for a fictional "Planet Pi," which appropriately has a circumference of 314,152 miles.

The infographic is available on the JPL Infographics website and as a full-resolution download below.

"Planet Pi" Downloads:

• Poster - Download PDF (27 MB)

TAGS: Pi Day, Infographics, Math, K-12, Downloads, Posters

• 

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kim Orr, Web Producer, NASA-JPL Education Office

  Kim Orr is a web and content producer for the Education Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her pastimes are laughing and going on Indiana Jones style adventures.