Hyperbolic Mirrors Hyperbolas have interesting reflective properties that make them useful for lenses and mirrors. For example, if a ray of light strikes a convex hyperbolic mirror on a line that would (theoretically) pass through its rear focus, it is reflected through the front focus. This property, and that of the parabola, were used to develop the Cassegrain telescope in 1672. The focus of the parabolic mirror and the rear focus of the hyperbolic mirror are the same point. The rays are collected by the parabolic mirror, then are reflected toward the (common) focus, and thus are reflected by the hyperbolic mirror through the opening to its front focus, where the eyepiece is located. If the equation of the hyperbola is y2 / 9 - x2 / 16 = 1 and the focal length (distance from the vertex to the focus) of the parabola is 6, find the equation of the parabola. Source: www.enchantedlearning.com
Hyperbolic Mirrors Hyperbolas have interesting reflective
properties that make them useful for lenses and mirrors. For
example, if a ray of light strikes a convex hyperbolic mirror
on a line that would (theoretically) pass through its rear
focus, it is reflected through the front focus. This property,
and that of the parabola, were used to develop the Cassegrain telescope in 1672. The focus of the parabolic mirror and the
rear focus of the hyperbolic mirror are the same point. The
rays are collected by the parabolic mirror, then are reflected
toward the (common) focus, and thus are reflected by the
hyperbolic mirror through the opening to its front focus,
where the eyepiece is located. If the equation of the hyperbola
is y2 / 9 - x2 / 16 = 1 and the focal length (distance from the
vertex to the focus) of the parabola is 6, find the equation of
the parabola.
Source: www.enchantedlearning.com
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