On 2/15/2015 8:47 AM, clipka wrote:
> Am 15.02.2015 um 05:13 schrieb Mike Horvath:
>> On 2/14/2015 10:25 PM, Mike Horvath wrote:
>>> If a parabola reflects parallel lines into its focus, what does a
>>> catenary do? What about non-parallel lines?
>
> Um... nothing much of interest as far as optics go, I'd guess. The true
> application for caternaries is in statics, where it's the ideal shape
> for self-suspending arches and bridges.
>
>> I posted a question on Stack Exchange too if you want to look at it.
>> There is a diagram to look at.
>>
>> http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1148679/ray-curve-mirror-problem
>
> I think an out-of-focus parabola might indeed be exactly what you need
> for that use case.
>
> You could use POV-Ray's photon mapping to test out this hypothesis.
>


I will have to do some playing around in geogebra.

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