Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
x2=−4ayx2=−4ay or y=−x24ay=−x24a.
Recall from calculus that the first derivative is the slope of the curve.
y′=−x2ay′=−x2a.
The value of y' above is linear, thus the grade diagram (slope diagram) for a summit
curve is downward and linear as shown in the figure below. The second derivative is
obviously constant
y′′=−12ay″=−12a
which is interpreted as rate of change of slope. This characteristic made the parabola the
desirable curve because it offers constant rate of change of slope.
1. The length of parabolic curve L is the horizontal distance between PI and PT.
2. PI is midway between PC and PT.
3. The curve is midway between PI and the midpoint of the chord from PC to PT.
4. The vertical distance between any two points on the curve is equal to area under the
grade diagram. The vertical distance c = Area.
5. The grade of the curve at a specific point is equal to the offset distance in the grade
diagram under that point. The grade at point Q is equal to gQ.
a=1/2g1L
b=1/2g2L
Neglecting the sign of g1 and g2
S1g1=Lg1+g2S1g1=Lg1+g2
S1=g1Lg1+g2
S2g2=Lg1+g2S2g2=Lg1+g2
S2=g2L/g1+g2
h1=1/2g1S1h1=12g1S1
h2=1/2g2S2h2=12g2S2
Other formulas
H=1/8L(g1+g2)
X^2/y=(1/2L)^2/H