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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, where an eccentricity of 0 represents a perfect circle and values approaching 1 indicate highly elongated ellipses.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the eccentricity by dividing the distance between the two foci by twice the semi-major axis length.
Details: Calculating orbital eccentricity is crucial for understanding orbital mechanics, predicting satellite trajectories, and analyzing planetary motions. It helps determine the shape and stability of orbits in astronomical and aerospace applications.
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.
Q1: What does an eccentricity value of 0 mean?
A: An eccentricity of 0 indicates a perfect circular orbit where both foci coincide at the center.
Q2: What is the maximum possible eccentricity value?
A: For elliptical orbits, the eccentricity ranges from 0 to 1. Values equal to or greater than 1 represent parabolic or hyperbolic trajectories.
Q3: How does eccentricity affect orbital period?
A: For a given semi-major axis, the orbital period remains constant regardless of eccentricity (Kepler's third law), but the speed varies throughout the orbit.
Q4: What are typical eccentricity values for planetary orbits?
A: Most planets in our solar system have low eccentricities (0.01-0.2), while comets often have highly eccentric orbits (0.9+).
Q5: Can eccentricity change over time?
A: Yes, eccentricity can change due to gravitational perturbations from other bodies, tidal forces, or orbital maneuvers in artificial satellites.