Parabolic Reflector

From Math Images

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 2: Line 2:
|ImageName=Parabolic Reflector Dish
|ImageName=Parabolic Reflector Dish
|Image=Solardish.jpg
|Image=Solardish.jpg
-
|ImageIntro=Solar Dishes such as the one shown uses a paraboloid shape to focus the incoming light into a single collector.
+
|ImageIntro=Solar Dishes such as the one shown use a paraboloid shape to focus the incoming light into a single collector.
|ImageDescElem=
|ImageDescElem=
-
[[Image:Parfocdir.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
+
[[Image:Parfocdir3.JPG|thumb|300px|left]]
-
The geometry of a parabola makes this shape useful for such solar dishes. If the dish is facing the sun, beams of light coming from the sun are essentially parallel when they hit the dish. Considering the construction of a [[parabola]], these incoming beams would be perpendicular to the parabola's directrix.
+
The geometry of a parabola makes this shape useful for such solar dishes. If the dish is facing the sun, beams of light coming from the sun are essentially parallel to each other when they hit the dish. Considering the construction of a [[parabola]], these incoming beams would be perpendicular to the parabola's directrix. Upon hitting the surface of the dish, the beams are reflected directly towards the focus of the parabola, which is where a device to absorb the sun's energy would be located.
|ImageDesc=.
|ImageDesc=.
|AuthorName=Energy Information Administration
|AuthorName=Energy Information Administration

Revision as of 14:46, 15 June 2009

Image:inprogress.png
Parabolic Reflector Dish
Solar Dishes such as the one shown use a paraboloid shape to focus the incoming light into a single collector.

Basic Description

The geometry of a parabola makes this shape useful for such solar dishes. If the dish is facing the sun, beams of light coming from the sun are essentially parallel to each other when they hit the dish. Considering the construction of a parabola, these incoming beams would be perpendicular to the parabola's directrix. Upon hitting the surface of the dish, the beams are reflected directly towards the focus of the parabola, which is where a device to absorb the sun's energy would be located.

A More Mathematical Explanation

.

.




Teaching Materials

There are currently no teaching materials for this page. Add teaching materials.








If you are able, please consider adding to or editing this page!

Have questions about the image or the explanations on this page?
Leave a message on the discussion page by clicking the 'discussion' tab at the top of this image page.






Parabolic Reflector Dish
Field: Geometry
Created By: Energy Information Administration
Retrieved from "http://mathforum.org/mathimages/index.php/Parabolic_Reflector"
Personal tools
Create or Edit a Page