parabolas
U-shaped mathematical curves
Parabolas is the plural of parabola, the U-shaped curve formed when a cone is sliced parallel to its side.
In mathematics, a parabola is defined by points equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix).
The shape appears everywhere: the arc of a thrown ball, the curve of a satellite dish, the path of water from a fountain.
The teacher asked us to graph three different parabolas.
Smooth, angleless line
- conic sectionCurve from plane-cone intersection
- vertexPoint where edges converge
- focusConcentrated attention point
- directrixLine defining conic sections
axis of symmetry · quadratic · ellipse · locus · tangent · asymptote · arc · equation
Path of moving object
- projectileLaunched airborne object
- motionChange in position
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
- gravityMutual mass attraction
path · arc · launch angle · velocity · acceleration · free fall · kinematics · flight
Team sport with hoops
- free throwUncontested penalty basket attempt
- golf swingRotational club motion
- divingEntering water deliberately
- ski jumpSteep ramp for aerial descent
shot put · javelin · billiards · bowling · archery · trajectory · hang time · launch
Light-redirecting surface
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
- satellite dishConcave aerial receiving transmissions
- solar collectorSurface gathering radiant energy
- headlightForward-facing vehicle lamp
flashlight · searchlight · telescope · mirror · focal point · concentrator · radar · microwave
curve
Smooth, angleless line
- conic sectionCurve from plane-cone intersection
- vertexPoint where edges converge
- focusConcentrated attention point
directrix · axis of symmetry · quadratic · ellipse · locus · tangent · asymptote · arc · equation · coordinate
trajectory
Path of moving object
- projectileLaunched airborne object
- motionChange in position
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
gravity · path · arc · launch angle · velocity · acceleration · free fall · kinematics · flight · range
basketball
Team sport with hoops
- free throwUncontested penalty basket attempt
- golf swingRotational club motion
- divingEntering water deliberately
ski jump · shot put · javelin · billiards · bowling · archery · trajectory · hang time · launch · curve ball
reflector
Light-redirecting surface
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
- satellite dishConcave aerial receiving transmissions
- solar collectorSurface gathering radiant energy
headlight · flashlight · searchlight · telescope · mirror · focal point · concentrator · radar · microwave · acoustic
arch
Curved spanning structure
- vaultSecure storage chamber
- suspension bridgeSpan hung from overhead cables
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
catenary · dome · span · support · Gaudi · roof · amphitheater · bandshell · concrete · tension
- mathaddition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra
- precalculusfunctions, polynomials, trigonometry, logarithms, exponential functions
- geometryangles, circles, angle, shapes, lines
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- curvescurve, arc, curves, curls, curl
- algebravariables, equations, equation, polynomials, algebraic equations
parabolasellipses
Marks indicating omitted text
circles · hyperbolas · ovals · loops · polygons
parabolasstraight lines
Unbent one-dimensional figures
linear functions · lines · rays · line segments · linear equations
- parabolic mirrorCurved reflector concentrating light
- parabolic reflectorCurved surface focusing signals