Parabolas are everywhere

Look at the shape of the icy cave entrance melted by the pounding surf or this double rainbow.

Have you seen a parabola lately?  We can find some nearly perfect parabolas in nature.  This stone arch is another prime example of a parabola formed by nature.

Parabolas are easy to create, just cut a slice out of an infinite cone and check out the infinite cross-section. Be careful, you have to slice at the correct angle, otherwise you might accidentally create a circle or an ellipse.

 
To create your own conic section check out this website: http://academic.sun.ac.za/mathed/shoma/Index14.htm

Perhaps an easier way to form a parabola is to suspend a shiny chain, holding one end in each of your hands.  If you hang it in front of a black background, you may be able to reproduce the image that 2 Chainz created on this CD cover for Based on a T.R.U. Story.

 
These might even qualify as parallel parabolas. ;)

Looks like Flo Rida is quite proud of his single parabola.

http://www.billboard.com/images/pref_images/q00120e8szk.jpg

Keep your eyes open to find more parabolas around you.



To make your own parabolas and learn more about them, click on this link: www.mathwarehouse.com/quadratic/parabola/interactive-parabola.php