Ellipse Eccentricity Calculator
Discover the shape of an ellipse by calculating its eccentricity. Enter the semi-major and semi-minor axes to visualize and understand.
Ellipse Parameters
Define the ellipse by entering its semi-major and semi-minor axes.
units
units
Eccentricity Result
Eccentricity (e):
Formula: $$ e = \sqrt{1 - \frac{b^2}{a^2}} $$
Visualize Ellipse
Understanding Ellipse Eccentricity
Eccentricity measures how much an ellipse deviates from a perfect circle. It's a value between 0 and just under 1. An eccentricity of 0 is a circle, and values closer to 1 are more elongated ellipses.
The formula for eccentricity (e) is: $$ e = \sqrt{1 - \frac{b^2}{a^2}} $$, where 'a' is the semi-major axis (longest radius) and 'b' is the semi-minor axis (shortest radius).
- Semi-major axis (a): Longest radius from the center to the ellipse edge.
- Semi-minor axis (b): Shortest radius from the center to the ellipse edge.
- Eccentricity (e): Shape descriptor, 0 for circle, closer to 1 for elongated ellipse.
- Foci: Two points inside the ellipse used in its definition. Plotted as red dots in the visualization.
For deeper insights, visit Wikipedia on Ellipses.