Publication Date

1963

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Beach, James W.||Hellmich, Eugene W. (Eugene William), 1902-

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Mathematics

LCSH

Conic sections; Geometry; Plane

Abstract

In this paper a study was made of special reflection patterns of projectiles in conic sections. It was proved that a projectile will always be reflected through a focus of an ellipse after once passing through a focus. It was also proved that the ultimate path of such a projectile would coincide with the major axis of the ellipse if it were to continue reflecting indefinitely. Similar proofs were presented for the hyperbola. The circle was handled as a special case of the ellipse. Comparable discussions for the parabola can be found in the literature. Special consideration was given for other patterns of reflection in certain conic sections.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.||Includes illustrations.

Extent

vi, 35 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS