Conic Sections

Engineering Drawing
Fig. Development of conic sections
Fig. Development of conic sections
 The Ellipse

The plane that intersects the cone is neither parallel nor

perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the cone and cuts
through 2 “sides”.
 An ellipse is the set of all points in the plane for which the sum
of the distances to two fixed points (called foci) is a positive
constant

The major axis is the line segment passing

through the foci with endpoints (called vertices)
on the ellipse. Ellipse
d1 + d2 = constant
d1
The midpoint of the major focus d2 focus major axis
axis is the center of the ellipse. vertex
vertex center
The minor axis is the line segment
perpendicular to the major axis minor axis
passing through the center of the
ellipse with endpoints on the
ellipse.
Ellipse
Major axis - longer axis contains foci
Minor axis - shorter axis
Semi-axis - ½ the length of axis
Center - midpoint of major axis
Vertices - endpoints of the major axis
Foci - two given points on the major axis

Focus Center Focus

 The standard form for the equation of an ellipse with center
at the origin and a major axis2 that2 is horizontal is:
x y
2
 2
1
a b

vertices: (–a, 0), (a, 0) and

foci: (–c, 0), (c, 0)
y
(0, b) x2 y 2
where c2 = a2 – b2 2
 2 1
a a b
b
c a x
(– a, 0) (–c, 0) (0, 0) (c, 0) (a, 0)

(0, – b)

Ellipse with Major Axis Horizontal.

 The standard form for the equation of an ellipse with center at
the origin and a major axis that is vertical is:

x2 y2
2
 2  1 with, vertices: (0, –a), (0, a) and foci: (0, –c), (0, c)
b a
y (0, a)
Where , c = a – b
2 2 2

x2 y 2
(0, c) b 2  a 2  1
a
c
(0, 0) x
(– b, 0) b b (b, 0)
a
(0, -c)

(0, – a)
Ellipse with Major Axis Vertical.
Parabola

A parabola is the set of all points in the plane that

are equidistant from a fixed line (directrix) and a
fixed point (focus) not on the line.
The plane that intersects the cone is parallel to
an element of the cone.
The fixed line is the directrix. axis
The fixed point is the focus.
parabola
The axis is the line passing
through the focus and focus
perpendicular to the directrix.

The vertex is the midpoint directrix

of the line segment along
the axis joining the directrix
to the focus. vertex
The standard form for the equation of a parabola with
vertex at the origin and a vertical axis is:
x2 = 4py where p  0

vertical axis: x = 0 directrix: y = –p, focus: (0, p)

(0, p) x2 = 4py
p
x
(0, 0)
y = –p

Parabola With Vertical axis

 The standard form for the equation of a parabola with
vertex at the origin and a horizontal axis is:
y2 = 4px where p  0

y
horizontal axis: y = 0, directrix: x = –p
y2 = 4px
focus: ( p, 0)
(0, 0) x
p (p, 0)
x = –p

Parabola With Horizontal axis

.
Hyperbola
Definition: set of all points in a plane, the difference
between whose distances from two fixed points (foci) is a
positive constant.
The plane that intersects the cone is parallel to the axis
of symmetry of the cone.
Parts of hyperbola
Transverse axis (look for the positive sign)
Conjugate axis
Vertices
Foci (will be on the transverse axis)
Center
Asymptotes
 A hyperbola is the set of all points in the plane for which the
difference from two fixed points (the foci) is a positive
constant.
.

hyperbola
The line through the foci transverse axis
intersects the hyperbola at
two points called vertices.
vertex vertex focus
focus
d1
The line segment joining d2
the vertices is the transverse axis.
Its midpoint is the center of the
center
hyperbola.
d1 – d2 = constant
Hyperbola with horizontal transverse axis
 The standard form for the equation of a hyperbola with a
2 2
horizontal transverse axis is: x  y  1 with: vertices: (– a, 0),
a 2 b2 (a, 0)

foci: (– c, vertex y asymptote

(– a, 0) b
0), (c, 0) (0, b) y x
a
vertex (a, 0)
where b2 = c2 – a2 focus focus x
(–c, 0) (c, 0)
asymptote
b
(0, –b) y x
a
A hyperbola with a horizontal transverse axis has asymptotes
with equations y  b x and y   b x.
a a
Hyperbola with Vertical Transverse Axis
 The standard form for the equation of a hyperbola with a
2 2
y x
vertical transverse axis is:   1 with: vertices: (0, – a),
a2 b2 (0, a) and

foci: (0, – c), (0, c) y asymptote

focus (0, c) a
where b2 = c2 – a2 vertex y x
b
(0, a)
x
(–b, 0) (b, 0)
vertex asymptote
a
(0, – a) (0, -c) y x
focus b

A hyperbola with a vertical transverse axis has asymptotes

a
with equations y  x and y   a x.
b b
PROBLEMS
 Ellipse
Construct an ellipse when the distance between focus and
directrix is 30 mm and e is ¾.
Sol:-
• Draw a vertical line DD to represent the directrix . At point
C , draw a line perpendicular to directrix to represent axis .
• Distance between F and directrix is 30 mm. so, mark CF1
as 30 mm.
• For ellipse, e = 3/4 , so construct right angled triangle
CXY such that XY / CX = ¾ .
• From F1 draw a 450 line to intersect CY at S . From S
erect vertical to intersect CF1 at V1 , the vertex. SV1 =F1V1
Triangle CXY is similar to triangle CV 1S .
From F1 draw another 450 line to intersect extension of CY at T. From T erect
vertical to intersect axis at V 2.
V1V2 = MAJOR AXIS
Along major axis mark points 1,2, ……10 etc. at equal intervals. Through these
points erect verticals to intersect CY at 1 1, 21,31,…101 etc. respectively.
With 111 as radius and F1 as centre draw two arcs on either side of the axis to
intersect the vertical line through1 at P 1 and P11
With 221 as radius and F1 as centre draw two arcs on either side of the axis to
intersect the vertical line through2 at P 2 and P21
Similarly get other points corresponding to points 2 , 3, 4,
…..10. Draw a smooth ellipse through V1,P1…..…
1
P10,V2,P101….P1 ,V1 .
 Parabola
Construct a parabola when the distance between focus and
directrix is 40 mm.
Sol :-
• Draw the directrix DD. At any point C on it draw a line
CA perpendicular to DD to represent the axis.
• Distance between focus and directrix is 40 mm . Mark F as
focus and CF as 40 mm .
• For parabola, e =1 , so construct right angled triangle CXY
such that XY / CX =1.
• From F draw a 450 line to intersect CY at S . From S erect
vertical to intersect CF at V , the vertex. SV =FV
Triangle CXY is similar to triangle CVS .
Along axis CA mark points 1,2, ……5 etc. at equal intervals.
Through these points erect verticals to intersect CY at 11, 21,31,
…51 etc. respectively.
With 111 as radius and F as centre draw two arcs on either side
of the axis to intersect the vertical line through1 at P1 and P11
Similarly get other points corresponding to points 2 , 3, 4,…..
Draw a smooth parabola through P5,….P1,V,P11 etc.
 Hyperbola
Construct a hyperbola when the distance between focus and directrix
is 40 mm and e is 4/3 .
Sol:-
• Draw the directrix DD. At any point C on it draw a line CA
perpendicular to DD to represent the axis.
• Distance between focu and directrix is 40 mm . Mark F as focus and
CF as 40 mm .
• For hyperbola, e = 4/3 , so construct right angled triangle CXY such
that XY / CX = 4/3 .
• From F draw a 450 line to intersect CY at S . From S erect vertical to
intersect CF at V , the vertex. SV =FV
•
Triangle CXY is similar to triangle CVS .
Along axis CA mark points 1,2, ……5 etc. at equal intervals.
Through these points erect verticals to intersect CY at 11, 21,31,
…51 etc. respectively.
With 111 as radius and F as centre draw two arcs on either side
of the axis to intersect the vertical line through1 at P1 and P11
Repeat the above and obtain points P2 and P21 , …P5 and P51
corresponding to 2,3,4 and 5 . Draw a smooth hyperbola
through P5 ,P4 ,…P1 , V ,P11,…P51.