If a surface is the graph of an equation of second degree in three-dimensional Cartesian Coordinates, it is called a quadric surface. All plane sections of quadric surfaces are conics. Quadric surfaces are sometimes difficult to draw in two dimensions. This page is designed to help you explore the quadric surfaces from multiple angles. If you use your mouse to click on the graphs below you will be able to alter your view point of the surface. You can also start the graph rotating by moving the mouse slightly and then releasing.
Elliptic Cone
The general form for
the equation of the elliptic cone is
Sphere
The general form for
the equation of the sphere is 
Ellipsoid
The general form for
the equation of the ellipsoid is 
Hyperboloid of One Sheet
The general form for
the equation of the hyperboloid of one sheet is 
Hyperboloid of Two Sheets
The general form for
the equation of the hyperboloid of two sheets is
Elliptic Paraboloid
The general form for
the equation of the Elliptic Paraboloid is
Hyperbolic Paraboloid
The general form for
the equation of the hyperbolic Paraboloid is 
Special thanks in the Creation of this page go to Martin Kraus's for the use of his Live java applet to control 3D Mathematica graphics in real timto Paul Blanchard at Boston University for his great talk at the ICTCM conference in Baltimore, MD.
This
page was created and is maintained by Cathy M.
Frey, Norwich University.
This page was last modified on Wednesday, October 19, 2005
.