Enter the semi-major axis length and eccentricity into the calculator to determine the focus distance of an ellipse.

Focus Distance Calculation Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the focus distance (c) from the semi-major axis length (a) and the eccentricity (e).

Focus Distance (c) = a * e

Variables:

  • Focus Distance (c) is the distance from the center of the ellipse to the foci.
  • Semi-major Axis Length (a) is half of the longest diameter of the ellipse.
  • Eccentricity (e) is a measure of how much the ellipse deviates from being circular.

To calculate the focus distance, multiply the semi-major axis length by the eccentricity.

What is Focus Distance Calculation?

Focus distance calculation refers to the process of determining the distance from the center of an ellipse to its focal points. This involves understanding the geometric properties of the ellipse, specifically the semi-major axis length and the eccentricity. Proper focus distance calculation is essential in fields such as astronomy, engineering, and physics.

How to Calculate Focus Distance?

The following steps outline how to calculate the focus distance using the given formula.

  1. First, determine the semi-major axis length (a) of the ellipse.
  2. Next, determine the eccentricity (e) of the ellipse.
  3. Use the formula from above: Focus Distance (c) = a * e.
  4. Finally, calculate the focus distance by plugging in the values.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Semi-major Axis Length = 10

Eccentricity = 0.8

FAQ

1. What is a semi-major axis?

The semi-major axis is half