What would a cone look like if it was cut horizontally?

Answer 1

It depends how the cone was standing relative to the horizontal plane of the cut:

It will result in:

• a circle (if the cone is with its circular base in a horizontal plane)
• a parabola (if the cone is with its circular base is in a vertical plane)
• an ellipse (if the cone is tilted with its circular base somewhere between a horizontal plane and a vertical plane).

Answer 2

If a cone, standing upright, was cut across horizontally, the size of each section would depend on where it was cut from. Each section would appear as a disc. Sections cut from the top of the cone would be small discs. Sections cut from the bottom of the cone would be larger discs. The bottom most section would be the biggest disc of them all.
But, if the cone was laid and then cut horizontally, the resulting shape would appear as a cone, wide at the bottom, narrow at the top.

Answer 3

The horizontal cross-section of a cone standing on its base, is a circle.