Conic Section (Set of 4) for School Maths Lab

Quick Answer: Conic Section (Set of 4) for School Maths Lab is a set of four models showing how a cone cut by a plane at different angles produces the four conic sections: circle, ellipse, parabola and hyperbola. The conic section set of 4 lets students see each curve as a real cut through a solid.

Four Cuts Through a Cone

Every conic section is the curve where a plane meets a cone, and the kind of curve depends only on the angle of the cut. A cut parallel to the base gives a circle. Tilting the plane a little gives an ellipse, a closed oval. Tilting it until it is parallel to the slant side of the cone gives a parabola, which never closes. Tilting it more steeply still gives a hyperbola, which on a double cone would cut both halves.

Having the four models side by side is what makes the set useful. Students can line them up in order of the angle of the cut and watch the curve change from closed to open, which is much harder to picture from a two-dimensional textbook figure. It also explains the names used later in coordinate geometry, where each curve gets its own standard equation.

The set is a demonstration and discussion tool for Class 11 coordinate geometry, and a curiosity for younger students who have met only circles. Material, size and whether the cut pieces separate from the cone should be confirmed at the time of ordering.

Applications

• Introducing conic sections as plane sections of a cone
• Ordering the four curves by the angle of the cut
• Discussing closed (circle, ellipse) and open (parabola, hyperbola) curves
• Linking physical sections to the standard equations taught later

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep the four models together in their box so the set can be shown in sequence.
• If the cut pieces lift off, fit them back carefully; forcing a piece can chip the cut edge.
• Dust with a dry cloth and keep the models out of direct sun and heat.

Why Choose LabEquip

Senior secondary maths teachers use this set when conic sections are introduced, and it pairs with the Conic Section with Standard Equation model, which connects the solids to their equations. Both are in LabEquip’s Mathematics School Lab Products; enquire through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are these curves called conic sections?

Because each one is a section, or cut, through a cone. The circle, ellipse, parabola and hyperbola are the curves produced when a plane cuts a cone without passing through its tip.

What decides which conic you get?

The tilt of the cutting plane compared with the slant side of the cone. Parallel to the base gives a circle, a small tilt an ellipse, parallel to the slant side a parabola, and steeper than the slant side a hyperbola.

What is the difference between the parabola and hyperbola models?

Both are open curves. The parabola comes from a cut exactly parallel to the slant side of the cone, while the hyperbola comes from a steeper cut. On a double cone the hyperbola’s plane would cut both halves, giving two branches.

How does the set help with coordinate geometry?

Students first see the four curves as physical shapes, then meet their equations, such as x² + y² = r² for a circle, and the standard forms for the ellipse, parabola and hyperbola. Knowing the shape makes the equations easier to interpret.

What happens if the plane passes through the tip of the cone?

The result is a degenerate conic: a single point, a single line or a pair of crossing lines. School models usually leave these out, but they are worth mentioning when the full classification is discussed.

Where are conic sections found in real life?

The path of a thrown ball is close to a parabola, planets move in ellipses, and the light from a lamp shade on a wall often traces a hyperbola. Reflectors in torches and satellite dishes use the parabola’s focusing property.

Last Updated: September 2026