1. What is the Eccentricity of Elliptical Orbit?

The Eccentricity of Elliptical Orbit is a measure of how stretched or elongated the orbit's shape is. It quantifies the deviation of the orbit from a perfect circle, with values ranging from 0 (circular) to values approaching 1 (highly elliptical).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( e_e \) — Eccentricity of Elliptical Orbit
• \( d_{foci} \) — Distance Between Two Foci (meters)
• \( a_e \) — Semi Major Axis of Elliptic Orbit (meters)

Explanation: The formula calculates the eccentricity by dividing the distance between the two foci by twice the semi-major axis of the elliptical orbit.

3. Importance of Eccentricity Calculation

Details: Calculating orbital eccentricity is crucial for understanding orbital mechanics, predicting satellite trajectories, and analyzing planetary motions in astronomy and aerospace engineering.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the distance between two foci and the semi-major axis in meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does an eccentricity value of 0 mean?
A: An eccentricity value of 0 indicates a perfect circular orbit where both foci coincide at the center.

Q2: What is the maximum possible value for eccentricity?
A: For elliptical orbits, eccentricity values range from 0 to values approaching 1 (but never reaching 1, which would be a parabolic orbit).

Q3: How does eccentricity affect orbital period?
A: For a given semi-major axis, eccentricity does not affect the orbital period according to Kepler's third law.

Q4: Can eccentricity be negative?
A: No, eccentricity is always a non-negative value between 0 and 1 for elliptical orbits.

Q5: How is eccentricity related to orbital energy?
A: For a given semi-major axis, orbits with higher eccentricity have the same total energy but different distributions between kinetic and potential energy throughout the orbit.