parabola

If you’ve ever taken an algebra or physics class, then you’ve met a parabola, the simple curve that can model how a ball flies through the air.

The most important part of a parabola is the vertex — its highest or lowest point — and there are many mathematical techniques for finding it.

New Shepard takes off like a traditional rocket, with a crew capsule separating near the peak of the flight parabola, arcing into space for three minutes of weightless sightseeing, and descending by parachute, while the rocket itself lands upright.

In math, parabolas are special U-shaped curves that form by slicing through a cone-shape.

If it wasn’t for the air, Ramirez says, the football would still trace a parabola because of gravity.

If the load travels the reverse way, the shearing force at the head of the train is given by the ordinates of the dotted parabola.

This parabola is the curve of maximum moments for a travelling load uniform per ft. run.

Now, except for very short bridges and very unequal loads, a parabola can be found which includes the curve of maximum moments.

Let we be the load per ft. run which would produce the maximum moments represented by this parabola.

The planet would then have moved in a parabola, or an hyperbola, curves not returning into themselves.