Understanding Parabolas and Their Applications
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Parabolas and Their Applications
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ScribdTranslationsIn the following images, you will be able to observe the shape of the parabola; in
nature, the growth of a banana; the trajectory it describes
an object thrown into the air (ball, projectile, a stone); the flow of water
in a fountain, the waves in the sea, etc. Human beings, when studying the
characteristics and properties of the parabola, has built antennas
["parabolics","beacons","parabolic reflectors","radars","horns","stoves"]
solar panels, suspended bridges, the roller coaster; some designs
architectural ones have that structure, even something very simple like a
umbrella, etc. Therefore, the parable allows for a wide variety of
applications.
The surface generated by rotating a parabola around its
axis, it is a parabolic surface; this surface has the property
to be a reflector. That is, placing a luminous point at the focus, the
rays when striking the parabolic surface, reflect parallel to the
focal axis (left figure), and conversely, the rays that arrive parallel to the axis collide with the
parabolic surface and concentrate at the focus (right figure), example: parabolic antennas.
The parabola is part of the conic sections, and it is obtained when it intersects or cuts a
circular cylinder with a plane, as shown below:
3.2.1 Elements of the Parabola
Let's go to practice! Build a parabola by marking folds on a sheet of paper.
Materials: letter size paper, ruler, pencil.
1. Divide the width of a sheet into two equal parts, marking a fold. The
The base or lower part of the width of the sheet is the directrix. (figure 1).
2. Draw a point (Focus) on the crease, to5 6 í above the
Guideline (regardless of whether it is less than 5 or more than 6 cm). (figure 2).
3. Match the right end of the sheet (Directrix) with the point (focus)
mark a crease. (figure 3).
[Link] all possible folds while traversing the guideline.3 í
approximately, by the Focal point making them coincide, mark the
double. Continue in this way, go along the guideline (3 by the Focal point,
marking the fold, stop until it has covered half of the guideline.
(figure 4).
5. The left end of the Directrix (sheet) is aligned with point y
make a fold. (figure 5).
6. Mark all possible folds when passing through the guiding line at the point , of
the same way as in step 4. The parabola should look like in the figure
6.
5. The left end of the Directrix (sheet) is aligned with point y
make a fold. (figure 5).
6. Mark all possible folds while traversing the guideline at the point. , of the same
shape so in step 4. The parabola should look like in figure 6.
The rope ’ what passes through the focus, and is perpendicular to the focal axis is called the directrix.
measuring its length is called the length of the straight side ).
The distance from the focus to the vertex is the parameter. and it is the same distance from the vertex to the
guideline.
3.2.2 Ordinary equation of the Parabola
1. Draw 5 or 6 random points on the outline of the Parabola, name each point.
with 1, 2, 3, 4y 5.
Note down the following measurements in a table:
2. Measure with a ruler the distance from the point. 1to the and of the 1to the (how se
observe with the arrow in figure 7), after the 2to the and of the 2to the of the
same shape, measures the distance to the other points from the focus, and from the point to the directrix.
3. Also, measure the distance from the focus to the vertex, and from the vertex to the directrix.
4. Finally measure the length of the straight side ( `). (figure 7).
POINTS/LENGTH P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 VERTEX
PF
PD
FOCUS
GUIDELINE
Answer the following questions:
1. How is the distance from any point to the focus, and from the same point to the directrix?
_______________________.
Consider it a measurement error if a small variation occurs (one or two
millimeters) in their results, you can say they are equal.
2. What is the value of ? __________________.
3. What is the Length of the straight side: = ________?
4. Verify that the =4 true or false: _______________.
5. Observe the results and fill in the following spaces.
Definition: A parabola is the geometric place or set of all ______________ in the plane.
Cartesian, which are equidistant (have the same distance) from a fixed point called _____________ and from
a fixed line called __________________.
6. In the word search, find the words related to the parabola and its
elements. You can support yourself by answering the following questions:
In the parabola, the fixed point is called ______________.
The fixed line is called ______________.
c) It is the line on which the focus is located ________________________.
d) It is the point where the curve intersects the axis of symmetry or focal ______________.
the rope ’ what passes through the focus and is perpendicular to the focal axis is called
__________________ when measuring its length is named ___________________.
f) The distance from the focus to the vertex is the same distance from the vertex to the directrix, it is named
____________________.
g) It is used to indicate a position, it has no dimension, length, or area ______________.
h) Algebraic representation of points in space( , ) and form a plane
__________________.
It is the set of points in the plane that satisfy a certain property.
__________________________.
j) It is called the exact correspondence that occurs in the shape, size and
position of the parts of an object considered as a whole
k) It is the horizontal coordinate and is usually represented by the letter _______.
l) It is the vertical coordinate and is represented by the ____________ .
m) It is the geometric place of all points that are equidistant from a fixed point called
focus and a fixed line called directrix ________________.
If is greater than zero, the parabola opens towards __________________.
Holistic Rubric
Aspects to evaluate 4 3 2 1
The conics: 3 points
Three-dimensional figure: 3 points
Questionnaire: 2 points
Transversal project: 2 points
2 exercises Deliver 2 exercises of each one
the conics.
Solution Carry out the clearing process
from each equation as indicated by the
The conics. the formula and the result are correct.
Circumference Teamwork All team members
Parable they contribute ideas and support in the
Ellipse solution to the exercises.
Hyperbola
Delivery on time and The students they deliver the
form activities on the requested day and they give
presentation of your work.
Attitudinal The students work in a way
orderly and respectful with each
one of his companions, likewise,
they maintain a healthy environment and
clean in the classroom.
Questionnaire Answer the questionnaire and note the
answers found in the soup
of letters.
Word search Find all the words
hidden in the word search.
Design Creativity and originality are observed.
in each of the conics.
Figure Materials Use different materials for
three-dimensional of build your three-dimensional figure.
the conics. Teamwork All team members
they contribute ideas and support in the
solution of the exercises.
Delivery on time and The students they deliver the
form activities on the requested day and give
presentation of your work.
Attitudinal The students work in a way
orderly and respectful with each
one of his colleagues, likewise,
they maintain a healthy environment and
clean in the classroom.
Self-evaluation
Score
Co-evaluation
Heteroevaluation