Parabolas

Parabolas

1. Wide beam of light can be concentrated onto a small object

2. Uses

   • Reflectors used with electric lights
     • to concentrate light into a broad or narrow beam
       • the reverse of the other uses
   • Radio telescopes
     • to concentrate very faint signals from the far universe
   • Concentrators
     • that focus sunlight to increase the output of electricity producing solar cells
     • to focus sunlight to boil water to run a steam-turbine to create electricity
   • Satellite dishes
     • to concentrate signals arriving on earth from satellites in earth's orbit