Question

which of the following situations can be modeled with a periodic function?
the height of a football after it has been thrown
the height of a person riding on an escalator
the height of a building after it has been constructed
the height of a pebble stuck in the tread of a tire

Explanation:

A periodic function repeats its values at regular intervals.

• The height of a football after being thrown follows a parabolic (projectile) path, non - periodic.
• The height of a person on an escalator is a linear increase, non - periodic.
• The height of a constructed building is constant, non - periodic.
• A pebble in a tire's tread moves in a circular (periodic) motion as the tire rotates, so its height repeats at regular intervals (the tire's period of rotation).

Answer:

the height of a pebble stuck in the tread of a tire