Applications of Conic Sections

Conic sections have many real-world applications in physics, engineering, and astronomy.

Parabolic Reflectors

Example: Satellite Dish

Elliptical Orbits

Example: Planetary Orbit

Hyperbolic Paths

Reflecting Property of Ellipses

Practice Problems

1. A parabolic mirror is 8 cm across and 2 cm deep. Find the position of the focus.
2. The Earth's orbit is an ellipse with million km and million km. Find the eccentricity.
3. Explain why the reflecting property of ellipses is useful in medical lithotripsy.
4. A satellite dish is shaped like . Find the position of the receiver.