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Eccentricity Formula:
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Eccentricity is a parameter that determines how much a conic section (such as an ellipse) deviates from being circular. For ellipses, eccentricity ranges from 0 (a perfect circle) to values approaching 1 (highly elongated ellipses).
The calculator uses the eccentricity formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much an ellipse deviates from a perfect circle based on the ratio of its axes.
Details: Eccentricity is crucial in astronomy (planetary orbits), engineering (structural design), mathematics (conic sections), and physics (orbital mechanics). It helps describe the shape and properties of elliptical paths and objects.
Tips: Enter both minor and major axis lengths in the same units. The minor axis must be smaller than or equal to the major axis. Values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What does eccentricity value 0 mean?
A: An eccentricity of 0 indicates a perfect circle, where both axes are equal in length.
Q2: Can eccentricity be greater than 1?
A: For ellipses, eccentricity ranges from 0 to 1. Values greater than 1 indicate hyperbolas, while exactly 1 indicates a parabola.
Q3: How is eccentricity used in astronomy?
A: In astronomy, eccentricity describes how elliptical planetary orbits are. Earth's orbit has low eccentricity (0.0167), while comets often have highly eccentric orbits.
Q4: What's the relationship between eccentricity and flattening?
A: Eccentricity is related to flattening but describes different aspects of an ellipse's shape. Flattening measures how much the ellipse is compressed.
Q5: Are there different types of eccentricity?
A: Yes, there are first and second eccentricities in some contexts, but the formula shown here calculates the linear eccentricity commonly used for ellipses.