Make: Trigonometry

Chapter 10. Parabolas and the Quadratic Formula

3D Printable models used in this chapter

See Chapter 2 for directions on where and how to download these models.

• parabola_slider.scad
  • This model creates a parabola given various of its dimensions
• conic_parabolas.scad
  • This model creates a cone with many parabolas sliced into it
• You will also need
  • Elastic cord. We used 0.8 mm elastic cord, also called beading thread or crafting cord. You will need about 1 foot per model you choose to make.
  • A ruler or calipers
  • A protractor
  • Some graph paper, or the Cartesian x-y plane model from Chapter 5
  • A pipe cleaner (sometimes called a chenille stem)

Parabolas

In Chapter 9, we introduced all the conic sections (circle, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola), ...