Chapter 10: Problem 26
Find a polar equation of the conic with focus at the pole that has the given eccentricity and equation of directrix. $$e=1, \quad r \cos \theta=5$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The polar equation is \( r = \frac{5}{1 - \cos \theta} \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the type of conic
Since the eccentricity \(e\) is equal to 1, the conic is a parabola. A parabola has its focus at the pole and its directrix is at a fixed distance from the pole.
02
Write the directrix in polar coordinates
The given equation for the directrix is \(r \cos \theta = 5\). This represents a vertical line located at \(x = 5\) in rectangular coordinates.
03
Recall the polar equation for a parabola
For a parabola, the polar equation is given by \(r = \frac{ep}{1 + e \cos \theta}\) or \(r = \frac{ep}{1 - e \cos \theta}\), depending on the position of the directrix relative to the pole. Since the directrix is \(r \cos \theta = 5\), this corresponds to \(r = \frac{ep}{1 - e \cos \theta}\).
04
Determine the constant p
Since the eccentricity \(e\) is 1, this simplifies the equation to \(r = \frac{p}{1 - \cos \theta}\). The distance \(p\) is the perpendicular distance from the focus to the directrix, which here is 5.
05
Write the final polar equation
Substitute the value of \(p = 5\) and \(e = 1\) into the equation \(r = \frac{p}{1 - \cos \theta}\) to get the final polar equation of the parabola: \(r = \frac{5}{1 - \cos \theta}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates offer a unique way to express the position of a point in a plane. Unlike the rectangular coordinate system that uses x and y values, polar coordinates determine a point by a distance and an angle. The pair \(r, \theta\) describes a point in this system, where \(r\) represents the radial distance from the origin (or pole) and \(\theta\) represents the angle from the positive x-axis.
- The angle \(\theta\) can be positive or negative, affecting the direction of the point relative to the pole.
- When \(r\) is positive, the point is in the direction of \(\theta\), but when \(r\) is negative, the point is considered in the opposite direction.
- This system is particularly useful when dealing with problems involving angles or circular/spiral patterns, as it simplifies calculations.
Eccentricity
Eccentricity, denoted as \(e\), is a number that characterizes how much a conic section deviates from being circular. It plays a major role in determining the type of conic section in geometry. In simple terms, the eccentricity defines the shape of the conic:
- If \(e = 0\), the conic is a circle.
- If \(0 < e < 1\), the figure is an ellipse.
- An eccentricity of exactly 1, as in our exercise, defines a parabola.
- If \(e > 1\), the conic is a hyperbola.
Parabola
A parabola is a distinct conic section with several key characteristics based on its eccentricity and geometric properties. It appears in the context of reflective properties and projectile motion as a U-shaped curve.
- The parabola has the property where all points are equidistant from a specific point called the focus, and a line known as the directrix.
- For transformations and analyzing motions, parabolas are extremely relevant.
Focus and Directrix
The focus and directrix are critical components in defining a conic section. Specifically, they help determine the parabolic shape and position in space.
- The focus is a fixed point, and in polar coordinates, it is located at the pole.
- The directrix is a fixed line, often found in rectangular form, which can be converted into polar coordinates.