Chapter 10: Problem 35
Give the eccentricities of conic sections with one focus at the origin along with the directrix corresponding to that focus. Find a polar equation for each conic section. $$e=1 / 5, \quad y=-10$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The polar equation is \( r = \frac{10}{5 + \sin \theta} \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the problem
We are given a conic section characterized by an eccentricity \( e = \frac{1}{5} \) and a directrix \( y = -10 \). We need to find the type of conic section, its properties, and the equation in polar coordinates.
02
Identify the Conic Section Type
The eccentricity \( e = \frac{1}{5} \) is less than 1, indicating the conic section is an ellipse. In general, different values of eccentricity correspond to different conic sections: if \( e < 1 \) it is an ellipse, \( e = 1 \) a parabola, and \( e > 1 \) a hyperbola.
03
Polar Equation of Conics
The general formula for a conic section in polar coordinates with one focus at the origin is given by \( r = \frac{ed}{1 + e \sin \theta} \) if the directrix is horizontal. Here, \( e \) is the eccentricity and \( d \) is the distance from the origin to the directrix.
04
Substitute Into Polar Equation
For our ellipse, substitute \( e = \frac{1}{5} \) and \( d = 10 \) into the formula. Thus, the equation becomes: \[ r = \frac{\frac{1}{5} \times 10}{1 + \frac{1}{5} \sin \theta} = \frac{2}{1 + \frac{1}{5} \sin \theta} \]
05
Simplify the Polar Equation
Simplify the equation further by multiplying the numerator and denominator by 5 to eliminate the fraction in the denominator:\[ r = \frac{10}{5 + \sin \theta} \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Eccentricity
The eccentricity of a conic section is a measure that describes how much the conic deviates from being a circle. It is denoted by the letter \( e \) and is a positive real number. Different conics have different characteristics based on their eccentricity, allowing us to categorize them easily:
- If \( e < 1 \), the conic is an ellipse, which looks like a stretched circle.
- If \( e = 1 \), the conic is a parabola, which means it has a symmetry and opens like a letter 'U' or 'V'.
- If \( e > 1 \), the conic is a hyperbola, where it consists of two separate curves facing away from each other.
Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates are a way of representing points in a plane using a radius and an angle. Instead of using the traditional \(x\) and \(y\) coordinates, polar coordinates use \(r\) (the distance from the origin) and \(\theta\) (the angle relative to the positive x-axis).
- Conics in polar coordinates have their focus at the origin, making it convenient to describe them using this system.
- The polar equation for a conic is \( r = \frac{ed}{1 + e\sin\theta} \), when dealing with a horizontal directrix, or \( r = \frac{ed}{1 + e\cos\theta} \) for a vertical directrix.
Ellipse
An ellipse is a type of conic section that resembles a flattened circle. This shape is characterized by its eccentricity being less than 1. Some properties unique to ellipses include:
- Two focal points, with any point on the ellipse having a constant total distance to these foci.
- A consistent shape described by the equation \( \frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1 \) in Cartesian coordinates, where \(a\) and \(b\) are the semi-major and semi-minor axes, respectively.
Directrix
The directrix of a conic section is a crucial reference line used in the definition and formulation of conics. It is not part of the conic itself but contributes to its shape by working alongside the focus:
- The distance from any point on the conic to the directrix, compared to the distance to the focus, is always a fixed ratio equal to eccentricity.
- For an ellipse, this distance ratio is less than 1, aligning with the nature of ellipses having "gentler" curves.