Eccentricity: Difference between revisions
New page: ==Definition== Any orbit in planetary dynamics can be assumed to be of conic cross-section shape. The '''eccentricity''' of this conic section, the '''orbit's eccentricity''', is an impor... |
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*for [[elliptic orbit]]s: <math>0<e<1\,\!</math>, | *for [[elliptic orbit]]s: <math>0<e<1\,\!</math>, | ||
*for [[parabolic orbit]]s: <math>e=1\,\!</math>, | *for [[parabolic orbit]]s: <math>e=1\,\!</math>, | ||
*for [[hyperbolic orbit]s | *for [[hyperbolic orbit]]s: <math>e>1\,\!</math>. | ||
[[category: | [[category:Orbital Mechanics]] | ||
Revision as of 22:00, 6 October 2007
Definition
Any orbit in planetary dynamics can be assumed to be of conic cross-section shape. The eccentricity of this conic section, the orbit's eccentricity, is an important parameter of the orbit that defines its absolute shape. Eccentricity may be interpreted as a measure of how much this shape deviates from a circle.[1]
Eccentricity () is strictly defined for all circular, elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic orbits and may take following values:
- for circular orbits: ,
- for elliptic orbits: ,
- for parabolic orbits: ,
- for hyperbolic orbits: .