Question

What is a real world example of a conic?

Answer 1

Following are some of the real life conics :

1. The cables on a suspension bridge are parabolic.
2. Water flowing from a water fountain moves in a parabolic path.
3. The headlights on a car are paraboloids of revolution.
4. The moon's terminator is elliptic.
5. Whispering galleries, such as the old Senate chamber in DC
6. Elliptical gears are used for a slow power stroke and quick return; some bicycles use them to take advantage of the natural strength of your legs.
7. If you tilt a glass, the surface of the fluid is elliptical.
8. Pebbles on the beach assume an ellipsoidal shape.
9. Pool shots are easy on an elliptical table.
10. The shock wave from a jet plane travels along the ground as a hyperbola.
11. One of the “real–world” applications of parabolas involves the concept of a 3-dimensional parabolic reflector in which a parabola is revolved about its axis (the line segment joining the vertex and focus).
12. The shape of car headlights,
13. mirrors in reflecting telescopes, and television and radio antennae

I hope you teacher is happy with this examples.

All the best for it.

Answer 2

Thank you! @CGGURUMANJUNATH