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ESA Senior Years - Senior Topic 2a - The reflection property of the parabola
| Let \(P(2ap,ap^2)\) be a point on the parabola \(x^2=4ay\) with focus at \(S\) and let \(T\) be the point where the tangent at \(P\) cuts the \(y\)-axis.
Suppose \(PQ\) is a ray parallel to the \(y\)-axis. Our aim is to show that the line \(PS\) will satisfy the reflection property, that is, \(\angle QPB\) is equal to \(\angle SPT\).
Notice that, since \(QP\) is parallel to \(ST\), \(\angle QPB\) is equal to \(\angle STP\), so we will show that \(\angle STP = \angle SPT\).
Now \(S\) has coordinates \((0,a)\), and \(T\) has coordinates \((0,-ap^2)\), obtained by putting \(x=0\) in the equation of the tangent at \(P\). Hence\[ SP^2=(2ap-0)^2+(ap^2-a)^2 = a^2(p^2+1)^2 \] after a little algebra. Also, \[ ST^2 = (a+ap^2)^2= a^2(1+p^2)^2 \]and so \(SP=ST\). Hence \(\Delta STP\) is isosceles and so \(\angle STP = \angle SPT\). |
A Proof of the Reflective Property of the Parabola, Robert C. Williams, The American Mathematical Monthly, Vol. 94, No. 7 (Aug. - Sep., 1987), pp. 667-668
An important property of parabolas is the following: a ray of light emanating from the focus of a parabolic mirror is always reflected along a line parallel to the axis of the parabola. This fact is equivalent to the statement that the lines through the focus $F$ and an arbitrary point $P$ on the parabola and through $P$ parallel to the axis of the parabola make equal angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ with the line tangent to the curve at $P$. | All of the calculus books that I know prove (or direct the student property by proving that $\tan\alpha=\tan\beta$ via a cumbersome trigonometric analysis. Here is a short proof that, although it uses a little calculus, is more geometric. This proof is not new (see, for instance, [1, pp. 94-95]), but it certainly seems not to be well known.
Reference
[1] C. Smith, An Elementary Treatise on Conic Sections, Macmillan, London, 1885.
OpenMathDep | Internet Archive | In the figure, we have the parabola with equation $y=x^{2} / 4 c$, with focus $F(0, c)$ and directrix $y=-c . P\left(x_{0}, y_{0}\right)$ is a point on the parabola, $l_{1}$ is the line through $P$ and parallel to the axis of the parabola, and $l_{2}$ is the line through $P$ and tangent to the parabola. $D\left(x_{0},-c\right)$ is the intersection of $l_{1}$ with the directrix and $E$ is the intersection of $l_{2}$ with the line $F D$. Line $l_{2}$ has slope $x_{0} / 2 c$ (using calculus) while $F D$ has slope $-2 c / x_{0}$, so that these are perpendicular. Since $|\overrightarrow{F P}|=|\overrightarrow{P D}|$, the right triangles $F E P$ and $D E P$ are congruent. Thus $\beta=\angle F P E=\angle D P E=\alpha$.
It is also easy to verify that the point $E$ lies on the $x$-axis. |
这个图把$D$错标成了$P$. |
Reflective Property
| Begin with a line (the directrix), and a point labeled $F$.
Select an arbitrary point $A$, on the directrix, and construct a segment from that point to the focus (segment $AF$).
Now we know that any point on the perpendicular bisector of segment $AF$ is equidistant from the end points. Thus we now construct the perpendicular bisector of segment $AF$. The point on the parabola must be on this bisector.
We also know that the distance of a point to a line, is the perpendicular segment from the point to the line. Therefore we construct line $j$ through the point $A$ perpendicular to the directrix $d$. The point where $j$ intersect $k$, is the required point on the parabola. |
Theorem: The tangent line at a point $P$ on a parabola makes equal angle with the line through $P$ parallel to the axis of symmetry and the line through $P$ and the focus.
| Line $EP$ is tangent to the parabola at $P$. The point $P$ is a point on the parabola, and $P$ is equidistant from $F$ and $D$ (by definition). Therefore segment $PE$ is the altitude of isosceles triangle $PFD$, and angle $FPE$ is congruent to angle $EPD$. Since vertical angles are congruent, angle $EPD$ is congruent to angle $CPA$. |
Classroom Capsules - A Proof of the Reflective Property of the Parabola, Howard Sporn
The College Mathematics Journal, Volume 53, 2022 - Issue 1
Pages 67-68 | Received 12 Jul 2019, Accepted 01 Sep 2020, Published online: 15 Nov 2021
We may state the theorem as follows. See Figure 1. We draw the parabola having focus $F$ and directrix $d$. We call its vertex $V$. We choose any point $P$ on the parabola other than $V$. We draw the tangent line $t$ to the parabola at $P$. We define the angle $∠1$ to be the acute angle formed by $FP$ and $t$, and with $V$ in the interior. Then we draw the ray $r$ with endpoint $P$ pointing away from $d$. We define $∠2$ to be the acute angle formed by $r$ and $t$. We wish to prove that $∠1≅∠2$. |
Fig. 1 A parabola with focus $F$ and directrix $d$, showing a tangent $t$ to the parabola at $P$ and the angles $∠1$ and $∠2$. | Now, remove the tangent line $t$ for the moment. We let $Q$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $P$ to $d$. See Figure 2. We let $M$ be the midpoint of $\overline{FQ}$, and let $S$ be the reflection of $P$ in $M$. Therefore, $MF = MQ$ and $MP = MS$. So, by side-angle-side, $ΔFMP≅ΔQMS$, and therefore $FP = QS$. By a similar argument, $PQ = SF$. Now, since the distance from a point on a parabola to the focus is equal to the distance from the point to the directrix, we have $FP = PQ$. Therefore, quadrilateral $FPQS$ is a rhombus. |
Fig. 2 The parabola with the constructed rhombus. | We now need to show that line $\overleftrightarrow{MP}$ is indeed the tangent line $t$. Let $X$ be any point on that line other than $P$. Since the diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular, line $\overleftrightarrow{MP}$ is the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{FQ}$. If $X$ is not the point $M$, then by side-angle-side, $ΔFMX≅ΔQMX$, and therefore, $FX = XQ$. If $X$ is the point $M$, then obviously we still have $FX = XQ$. Now drop a perpendicular from $X$ to the directrix $d$. Call the foot of that perpendicular $Y$. If $X$ is not on $d$, $ΔXYQ$ is a right triangle with hypotenuse $QX$. Therefore, $XY < QX$, and so $XY ≠ FX$. Therefore, $X$ cannot lie on the parabola. If, on the other hand, $X$ lies on the directrix $d$, then $X$ and $Y$ are the same point, and so $XY = 0 ≠ FX$, and again $X$ cannot lie on the parabola. | $P$ is the only point on $\overleftrightarrow{MP}$ that lies on the parabola, and so $\overleftrightarrow{MP}$ is the tangent line $t$.
We now define $∠1$ and $∠2$ as before. The line segment $\overline{PS}$ is a diagonal of the rhombus. Therefore, $∠1≅∠MPQ$. The angles $∠MPQ$ and $∠2$ are vertical angles and thus congruent. Therefore $∠1≅∠2$, which completes the proof. |
这里“切线”是与抛物线只有1个公共点且不平行于对称轴的直线.(同样的,圆锥曲线的切线与光学性质总结帖) |
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