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| <i>b</i>. Now: | <i>b</i>. Now: | ||
| :eccentricity = <i>e</i> = square root( (<i>a</i><sup>2</sup> - <i>b</i><sup>2</sup>)/<i>a</i><sup>2</sup>) | |||
| The eccentricity of an ellipse is greater than zero and smaller than 1.0 | The eccentricity of an ellipse is greater than zero and smaller than 1.0 | ||
| The eccentricity of a circle is zero. | The eccentricity of a circle is zero. | ||
| In ], eccentricity refers to the deviation of an object's orbital motion from a circular orbit, according to the mathematical formula given above. | In ], eccentricity refers to the deviation of an object's orbital motion from a circular orbit, according to the mathematical formula given above. | ||
| In popular useage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of a person. | In popular useage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of a person. | ||
Revision as of 01:12, 28 May 2002
In mathematics, eccentricity is a measure of how much an ellipse deviates from a circle.
To calculate the eccentricity of any ellipse, measure the semi-major axis and call it a. Measure the semi-minor axis and call that measurement b. Now:
- eccentricity = e = square root( (a - b)/a)
The eccentricity of an ellipse is greater than zero and smaller than 1.0
The eccentricity of a circle is zero.
In astronomy, eccentricity refers to the deviation of an object's orbital motion from a circular orbit, according to the mathematical formula given above.
In popular useage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of a person.