Conic sections and tangent circles

A straight line m and a circle with centre C are given. Let A and B be arbitrary points on the line m and on the circle, respectively.
  • Ellipses and hyperbolas are generated by the family of perpendicular bisectors to AB.
  • The parabolas are the envelope of the family of ellipses and hyperbolas defined by point A.
  • The circles are tangent to the given circle and to the given line at A.
Things to try:
  • Drag the points A or C.
  • Activate boxes to show the other curves.