![]() Surprisingly, unlike the calculation of a circle's perimeter, calculating the cirumference of an ellipse is much more complicated and requiresĪ rather complex formula. ![]() The table below shows the formulas for calculating ellipse perimeter, ellipse aspect ratio and ellipse area. Line AO is the planet's average (or mean) distance and would be one half of the major axis.įor ellipse eccentricity formulas, see the graphic at the top of the page.Īs the eccentricity value goes from 0 to 1, theĮllipse goes from circular to highly elongated. Line f1 B would be the aphelion distance and Line A f1 would be the perihelion distance If we were dealing with planetary orbits and we were to say the Sun were at f 1 then: Johannes Kepler's First Law states that the planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun located at one of the foci. Lines OC and OD are the Semi-Minor axes which also equals Line b. Line CD is the Minor Axis and is the perpendicular bisector of the Major Axis. Lines AO and OB are the Semi-Major axes which also equals Line a. Line AB is the Major Axis (also called Long Axis or Line of Apsides). Is the locus of points the sum of whose distancesįrom two fixed points, called foci, is a constant. It seems in geometry that the ellipse is the "forgotten stepbrother" of the circle even though the ellipse is far more interesting. 223 and an average distance from the Sun of 1.458 astronomical units.Ĭlick on the "Average Distance and Eccentricity" button, enter these numbers, click "CALCULATE" then you will see its perihelion and aphelion distances along with its perimeter, area, foci distance and so on. The asteroid Eros has an orbital eccentricity of. This ellipse calculator comes in handy for astronomical calculations. Yes, information concerning aphelion, perihelion and average distance is also displayed, but if you are not dealing with planetary orbits, you can just ignore these. You can use this calculator for determining the properties of ellipses found in everyday life.įor example, if an elliptical coffee table measures 3.5 feet by 2 feet, click the "Major Axis and Minor Axis"īutton, enter the numbers, press "Calculate" and you will see that For example, after inputting just two items of data and thenĬlicking 'CALCULATE', the output boxes will display ellipse perimeter, area, eccentricity, foci distance, Aspect Ratio and much more information. The remaining five buttons perform much more extensive ellipse calculations. NOTE: Eccentricity = Aspect Ratio when it equals 1 ÷ square root (2) (or about. 8, click "Calculate" and your answer will be. The first two buttons convert Eccentricity to Aspect Ratio and Aspect Ratio to Eccentricity.įor practice, click on the "Eccentricity to Aspect Ratio" button, enter. Which two items of data do you want to input?Ĭ a l c u l a t o r I n s t r u c t i o n s Ellipse Calculator Scroll down for ellipse calculator instructions, ellipse graphics and equations.
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