ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Spherical conic

Imagine you have a big round ball, like a basketball. Now, imagine you want to wrap a piece of paper around the basketball so it covers the surface without any creases or wrinkles.

Here's where the spherical conic comes in. The spherical conic is a mathematical formula that helps you figure out the shape of the piece of paper you need to cut, so it will fit perfectly onto the round ball without any bumps or gaps.

The math behind the formula can be quite complicated, but essentially it involves taking into account the curvature of the sphere and the properties of a cone. By using the spherical conic, you can create a piece of paper that is curved in just the right way to fit onto the sphere.

Spherical conics are used in a number of fields, including astronomy and cartography. For example, astronomers use spherical conics to map stars and planets onto a flat surface, while cartographers use them to create accurate maps of the Earth's surface.

So, the next time you see a globe or a map, remember that there's some complex math behind it all, and the spherical conic is just one of the many tools that help make it all possible!