Parabola

A parabola is obtained when a section plane, parallel to one of the generators cuts the cone. This is illustrated in figure 1.

Figure 1.  Obtaining a parabola from a cone.                                     

Parabola (Applications)
 There are a large number oif applications for parabolic shapes. Some of these are  in searchlight mirrors, telescopic mirrors, a beam of uniform strength in design applications, the trajectory of the weigtless flight, etc.  These are shown in figure 2.

 

Figure 2. Few applications of parabolic shapes.