This is the problem I received:
A light source is to be placed on the axis of symmetry of the parabolic reflector shown in the figure attached. How far to the right of the vertex point should the light source be located if the designer wishes the reflected light rays to form a beam of parallel rays.
My original answer was:
4py=x^2
4p(6)=x^2
24p=6^2
24p=36
1/12(24p/1)=36/1(1/12)
2p/2=3/2
p=3/2=1.5 inches
My instructed said that there was an error in the third step. This didnt make sense to me so i re-did the problem like this:
4py=x^2
4p(6)=x^2
24p=x^2
24(6)=x^2
x^2=144
x=sqrt144
x=12 inches
Ive attached the drawing that accompanied the question.
Could you please take a look at these two answers and let me know if im on the right track here. Thank you so much for your time and assistance!
A light source is to be placed on the axis of symmetry of the parabolic reflector shown in the figure attached. How far to the right of the vertex point should the light source be located if the designer wishes the reflected light rays to form a beam of parallel rays.
My original answer was:
4py=x^2
4p(6)=x^2
24p=6^2
24p=36
1/12(24p/1)=36/1(1/12)
2p/2=3/2
p=3/2=1.5 inches
My instructed said that there was an error in the third step. This didnt make sense to me so i re-did the problem like this:
4py=x^2
4p(6)=x^2
24p=x^2
24(6)=x^2
x^2=144
x=sqrt144
x=12 inches
Ive attached the drawing that accompanied the question.
Could you please take a look at these two answers and let me know if im on the right track here. Thank you so much for your time and assistance!
