1ZConicSections

Conic Sections (not in course)

A conic section is a curve formed by slicing through a cone. There are four different curves that are called conic sections:
 * circle
 * ellipse
 * parabola
 * hyperbola

Imagine a cone sitting flat on a table with its point (and its central axis) directly up.

A **circle** is formed by slicing horizontally through the cone (perpendicular to the axis). (No 2 in diagram)

An **ellipse** is formed by slicing through the cone at an angle to the horizontal but so that the slice only cuts through the curved surface of the cone. (No 2 in diagram)

A **parabola** is formed by slicing through the cone parallel to the sloping side of the cone. The slice will therefore cut through the end of the cone. (No 1 in diagram)

A **hyperbola** is formed by slicing vertically through the cone (parallel to the axis). If a second cone is inverted and placed point-to-point above the first cone, a vertical slice will create the two halves of the hyperbola. (No 3 in diagram)