Ellipse - Other Definitions Of An Ellipse, Features, Drawing Ellipses, Uses
axis center major oval
An ellipse is a kind of oval. It is the oval formed by the intersection of a plane and a right circular cone-one of the four types of conic sections. The other three are the circle, the hyperbola, and the parabola. The ellipse is symmetrical along two lines, called axes. The major axis runs through the longest part of the ellipse and its center, and the minor axis is perpendicular to the major axis through the ellipse's center.
Additional Topics
Ellipses are described in several ways, each way having its own advantages and limitations: …
In working with ellipses it is useful to identify several special points, chords, measurements, and properties: The major axis: The longest chord in an ellipse that passes through the foci. It is equal in length to the constant sum in Definition 1 above. In Definitions 3 and 4 the larger of the constants a or b is equal to the semimajor axis. The center: The midpoint, C, of the major axis. The ver…
There are mechanical devices, called ellipsographs, based on Definition 4 for drawing ellipses precisely, but lacking such a device, one can use simple equipment and the definitions above to draw ellipses which are accurate enough for most practical purposes. To draw large ellipses one can use the pin-and-string method based on Definition 1: Stick pins into the drawing board at the two foci and at…
Ellipses are found in both natural and artificial objects. The paths of the planets and some comets around the Sun are approximately elliptical, with the sun at one of the foci. The seam where two cylindrical pipes are joined is an ellipse. Artists drawing circular objects such as the tops of vases use ellipses to render them in proper perspective. In Salt Lake City the roof of the Mormon Tabernac…
Citing this material
Please include a link to this page if you have found this material useful for research or writing a related article. Content on this website is from high-quality, licensed material originally published in print form. You can always be sure you're reading unbiased, factual, and accurate information.
Highlight the text below, right-click, and select “copy”. Paste the link into your website, email, or any other HTML document.
User Comments
11 months ago
Delavy
Thank you so much for the information given. I t is helpful to understand better the ellipses.