conic section

American  

noun

Geometry.

1. a curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a right circular cone; an ellipse, a circle, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

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conic section British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: conic.  one of a group of curves formed by the intersection of a plane and a right circular cone. It is either a circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola, depending on the eccentricity, e , which is constant for a particular curve e = 0 for a circle; e <1 for an ellipse; e = 1 for a parabola; e>1 for a hyperbola

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conic section Scientific  

1. A curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a cone. Conic sections can appear as circles, ellipses, hyperbolas, or parabolas, depending on the angle of the intersecting plane relative to the cone's base.

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Etymology

Origin of conic section

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conic section

Explain how eccentricity determines which conic section is given.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 13, 2015

For the following exercises, determine which conic section is represented based on the given equation.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 13, 2015

Write in the standard form of a conic if possible, and identify the conic section represented.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 13, 2015

For the following exercises, determine which conic section is represented by the given equation, and then determine the angle that will eliminate the term.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 13, 2015

The fact that the force varies as the inverse square of the distance, necessitates motion in an ellipse, or some other conic section, with the sun in one focus.

From Pioneers of Science by Lodge, Oliver, Sir