POLAR EQUATION OF

5 A CONIC
CHAPTER

5.1. POLAR CO-ORDINATES

Let O be a fixed point, called pole and OX be a fixed straight line through 0, called initial
line (or polar axis). P(r, 0)
I0203A
Let P be any point in the plane, so that |OP| =r and.u
snipey
LXOP =G, where 0 is measured in the anti-clockwise sense.
Then the numbers r and 0 taken together in this order are
called polar co-ordinates of the point P and written as he Polar angle
r
Pr,9), where is called the radius vector and 0 is called the Polar axis
vectorial angle or polar angle of the pointP. Fig. 5.1

Note:

C)
-
The vectorial angle 0 is + ve or ve according as it is measured in anti-clockwise or clockwise
direction from initial line OX. The radius vector r is considered positiveif
measured from O along the line bounding the vectorial P(r, 0)
angle and negative if measured in the opposite direction.
If PO is produced to P such that OP = OP in magnitude,
then co-ordinates of P' are either (-r, 0) or (r, 0+T)
(ti) The polar radius of pole 0 is zero and polar angle of pole
may have any value. Thus polar co-ordinates of 0 are Fig. 5.2
(0, 0) for all values of 6.

it) The polar angle of a point is not unique. The polar angle of a point takes infinite number
of values. Thus if the polar co-ordinates of a point P are (r, 0), then

(r, 0+2t), (7, 0t4m), (-r, 0+), .

are also the polar co-ordinates of the same point P. Thus

general co-ordinates of a point are l(-1" T,8+nT l, where n is any integer.

If,y and (, 0) are the cartesian co-ordinates and polar co-ordinates of a point P respectively,
Giv)

then x= r cos 0 andy = r sin

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6.32 sOLIDG0MER

7 If PsQ is a focal chord of a conic, prove that the locus of its middle point is another conic ntf
same nature as the original conic.

8. Provethat two points on the conic =1+e cos whosevectorial angles are a. p will be extremiti,

ofa diameter if =tan 2 tan

M.D.U. 2010; K.U. 20051

9. If PsQ and PHR be two chords of an ellipse passing through the foci S and H respectively; prova
PS PH
that is independent of the position of P.
SQ HR

10. Prove that the line = A cos +B sin 0 may be tangent to the conic

=1+ecos (0-7) if A +B
-2e (A cosy + Bsin y)+e-1 =0. [M.D.U. 2004

11. Prove that the cquation to the locus of foot of the perpendicular from the focus of the conic

=1+ecos 0 on any tangent to it is r(e-1)-2lercos0+2 =0. Discuss the particular

case

when e=1. IM.D.U. 2009

12. The normal to the conic -= 1+ecos0 at the point whose vectorial angle isu meets the curve again

1+2e cos
at the point whose vectorial angle is p. Prove that tantan 2 2
1-2esin
curve
13. If the normals at one of the extremities of the latus-rectum of=1+e cos 0
T
meets the

again at Q, prove that the distance of Q from focus is +3e" +e")

1+e2-e
14. Ifthe normals at the point whose vectorial angles are a, , 7., ô on
the conic=14ecos0 meetin
the point (p, ), prove that
) a+B+7+-20 = (2n + 1) n

() tan tantan tan 0

15. Prove that the locus ofthe pole of a chord of the conic =1+e cos 0, which aubtends a constan
T

angle 2a at the focus is= cosaecos.