INTRODUCTION TO CONIC SECTIONS

Objective/s:
• Illustrate the different types of conic sections: circles, parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas and degenerated
cases.

Definition of Terms: →
Double Right Circular Cone → formed when a straight line intersects a vertical line at fixed point and
rotates about that fixed point
→ consists of two cones joined at a fixed point and has a circular base
Vertex → fixed point joining the two cones of the double right circular cone
Generator → the line that rotates the vertical line
Axis → the fixed/vertical line where the generator rotates and perpendicular to
the circular base
Directrix → the perimeter of the circular base
Nappe → the lateral surface of the right circular cone
→ the double right circular cone is composed of two nappes:
upper nappe (above the vertex) and lower nappe (below the vertex)
Vertex Angle → the angle between the generator and the axis

CONIC SECTIONS – the two dimensional curves formed when the plane intersects
a double right circular cone (depending on the angle made by
plane with the axis of the cone)
a. Ellipse → (closed curve) when the plane intersects to one nappe of the double right circular cone and
the angle formed between the plane and the axis is greater than the vertex angle
b. Circle → (closed curve and special type of ellipse) when the plane is perpendicular to the axis
c. Parabola → (open curve) when the plane intersects to one nappe of the double right circular cone and the
angle formed between the plane and the axis is exactly equal to the vertex angle
d. Hyperbola → (two disjoint open curves) when the plane intersects both the nappes of the double right
circular cone and the angle formed between the plane and the axis is less than the vertex angle
e. Degenerate Conics → Point (Ellipse) - when the plane intersects the vertex of the cone the angle formed
between the plane and the axis is greater than the vertex angle
→ Line (Parabola) - when the plane intersects the vertex of the cone the angle formed
between the plane and the axis is exactly equal to the vertex angle
→ Two Intersecting Line (Hyperbola) - when the plane intersects the vertex of the cone
the angle formed between the plane and the axis is less than the vertex angle

Reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO2zAU3Eppo