Chapter 11: Problem 18
15–22 (a) Find the eccentricity and identify the conic. (b) Sketch the conic and label the vertices. $$r=\frac{10}{3-2 \sin \theta}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The conic is a hyperbola with eccentricity 2.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the form of the conic equation
The given polar equation is \( r = \frac{10}{3 - 2 \sin \theta} \). This equation compares to the general form of a conic in polar coordinates, \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \sin \theta} \), which indicates it's a conic with respect to a focus at the pole.
02
Determine the parameters 'e' and 'd'
For comparison, the given equation can be rewritten to match \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \sin \theta} \). Here, \( ed = 10 \) and \( 1 - e \sin \theta = 3 - 2 \sin \theta \). From matching coefficients, we have:1. \( ed = 10 \)2. \( e = \frac{2}{1} = 2 \)
03
Identify the eccentricity
From the step above, we've determined that the eccentricity \( e = 2 \). The value of eccentricity reveals the type of conic. For conics:- If \( e = 1 \), it's a parabola.- If \( e < 1 \), it's an ellipse.- If \( e = 0 \), it's a circle.- If \( e > 1 \), it's a hyperbola.Since \( e = 2 \) which is greater than 1, the conic is a hyperbola.
04
Identify the conic
The conic is identified as a hyperbola since the eccentricity \( e = 2 \) and is greater than 1.
05
Sketch the conic
To sketch the hyperbola, we note that the directrix is vertical since the equation is in the form \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \sin \theta} \). The vertices are found from polar coordinates by considering the extreme values of \( r \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Eccentricity
In the realm of conic sections, eccentricity is a fundamental property that helps in identifying and distinguishing various conic shapes. It is denoted by the symbol \( e \). The eccentricity determines the shape of the conic section:
- If \( e = 0 \), the conic is a circle, which is the most "balanced" shape.
- If \( 0 < e < 1 \), the shape is an ellipse, which is somewhat stretched.
- If \( e = 1 \), it indicates a parabola, showing a specific open curve.
- If \( e > 1 \), the conic section is a hyperbola, characterized by two separate branches.
Conic Sections
Conic sections are the curves obtained by slicing a double cone. These sections capture a variety of shapes:
- A circle, which is a curve where all points are equidistant from the center.
- An ellipse, which resembles a "squashed" circle, with two focal points.
- A parabola, which has a distinctive curved shape with one focal point.
- A hyperbola, consisting of two mirrored, open curves known as branches.
Hyperbola
A hyperbola is a fascinating type of conic section that has unique properties compared to other conic sections. It consists of two disconnected curves called branches. These branches are symmetrical around a center point.
- The eccentricity \( e \) of a hyperbola is always greater than 1.
- In the context of the given polar equation \( r = \frac{10}{3 - 2 \sin \theta} \), the equation of a hyperbola indicates that as \( \theta \) changes, \( r \) changes, allowing the branches to extend indefinitely.
- Hyperbolas can often model systems involving orbits and escape velocities, making them crucial in celestial mechanics.
Polar Equation
Polar equations are a beautiful way to represent conics using the polar coordinate system. They relate a radial distance \( r \) and an angular coordinate \( \theta \).
- The general form for a conic in polar coordinates with a focus at the pole is \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \sin \theta} \) or \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \cos \theta} \).
- This polar form is particularly useful for identifying and describing conic sections when a focus is considered one of the poles.
- In our equation \( r = \frac{10}{3 - 2 \sin \theta} \), we derived \( e = 2 \) and thus identified it as a hyperbola. The structure provides insight into how \( r \) changes as \( \theta \) rotates.
Vertex of Conic
The vertices of a conic are crucial points that help in sketching and understanding the overall shape of the conic section. In the case of a hyperbola, each branch has its own vertex.
- A vertex is the point on each branch where the conic section comes closest to or is furthest from its center.
- From the polar equation \( r = \frac{10}{3 - 2 \sin \theta} \), vertices can be identified by examining the extreme values of \( r \), which inform how far the curves extend.
- In practical terms, the vertices are essential for providing a framework to accurately sketch the shape of the hyperbola and understand its symmetry.