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What is the ratio of the distance between the foci and the length of the major axis which defines a planet's elliptical orbit?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
If the semimajor axis is a and the eccentricity e, then each focus is off the centre either side by an amount equal to ae (but still on the major axis).
So, the distance between the foci is 2ae , therefore the ratio you want is 2ae/2a, which is e or the eccentricity.
Taking the Earth's orbit (approximately), a = 149.6 million km, e = 1/60, so each focus is 2.49 million km either side of the centre; the Sun is at one focus and there is nothing at the other focus.
The semiminor axis b is given by b = a sqrt (1 - e2). For the Earth, the semiminor axis is 149.58 million km.
So the orbit is very nearly a circle but the main effect of the eccentricity is to make the Earth's distance from the Sun vary by ±2.49 million km, closest in January and furthest away in July.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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What is the relationship between a planets distance from the sun and distance between planets?
If two planets are in orbits with radii of R1 and R2, the distance between them varies from R2-R1 to R2+R1.
How does the distance between the inner planets differ from the distance between the outer planets?
As the names suggest, the inner planets are closer to the Sun than the outer planets.
Which planets move in an elliptical orbit?
All the planets move with an elliptical orbit, but with a very low eccentricity.
Who introduced elliptical orbits?
It was Kepler who discovered that the planets orbits are elliptical.
What has elliptical orbits?
As an elliptical orbit is any orbit that isn't perfectly circular, everything has an elliptical orbit. The planets Mercury and Pluto have the most elliptical orbits of the planets, and are easily seen to be oval shaped. Comets also have highly elliptical orbits.
What is the relationship between a planets distance from the sun and distance between planets?
If two planets are in orbits with radii of R1 and R2, the distance between them varies from R2-R1 to R2+R1.
How does the distance between the inner planets differ from the distance between the outer planets?
As the names suggest, the inner planets are closer to the Sun than the outer planets.
How long is the distance between Mars and Earth?
the distance between earth and mars changes after every minute. Both the planets travel along elliptical orbit that are not synchronized so they are continuously altering distance between them.the average distance between them is 225 million km. the closest approach was in the year 2003 when the earth and mars were separated by a distance of 56 million km.
What is the distance from the planets?
the distance from the planets is 6.5 million miles between each planet.
Which planets move in an elliptical orbit?
All the planets move with an elliptical orbit, but with a very low eccentricity.
What is the shape of the planets orbits discovered by keplar?
elliptical
What evidence do you have that planets move around the sun in an elliptical orbit?
That theory is supported by observation, and is predicted by other theory that isconfirmed by both observation and experiment.1). A system of planets moving around the sun in elliptical orbits is the simplest structurethat produces the motions of the planets that we actually see in the sky.(demonstrated by Kepler, working with Tycho's observational data)2). A theory of universal gravitation, proportional to the product of masses and inverselyto the square of the distance between masses, predictsthat planets will move aroundthe sun in elliptical orbits.(Newton)
Is the distance between inner planets less or greater than the distance between the outer planets?
The inner planets are closer together than the outer ones.
Is mars the only elliptical planet?
I don't know what "elliptical planet" is supposed to mean, but by any reasonable definition I can think of, no, all planets are "elliptical planets".
Who introduced elliptical orbits?
It was Kepler who discovered that the planets orbits are elliptical.
What planet moved in an elliptical orbit?
All planets have elliptical orbits.
Is the distance between inner planets less than or greater than the distance between the outer planets?
The inner planets are closer together than the outer ones.
