This Circumference of an Ellipse calculator approximates 
Ellipsethe circumference of an ellipse.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following parameters;
- (a) the length of the semi-major axis (see diagram)
- (b) the length of the semi-minor axis (see diagram)
Circumference of an Ellipse (C): The calculator returns the circumference or perimeter of the ellipse in meters. The user can automatically convert the meters to one of many other length units (e.g. miles or light-years) via the pull-down menu next to the resulting answer.
The Math / Science
In mathematics, an ellipse is a curve in a plane surrounding two focal points such that the sum of the distances to the two focal points is constant for every point on the curve. As such, it is a generalization of a circle, which is a special type of an ellipse having both focal points at the same location. The shape of an ellipse (how "elongated" it is) is represented by its eccentricity, which for an ellipse can be any number from 0 (the limiting case of a circle to arbitrarily close to but less than 1.
The circumference of an ellipse has been approximated in several simple formulae including this one by the famous mathematician Rumanujan. The the formula for the circumference of an ellipse used in this calculator is:
`C =2pi sqrt((a^2 + b^2)/2`
where:
- C = circumference of ellipse
- a = length of semi-major axis
- b = length of semi-minor axis
Ellipse Calculators
An ellipse is defined by the semi-major axis (A) and semi-minor axis (B).
- Area of Ellipse: Computes the area of an ellipse based on the semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b).
- Rumanujan's Circumference of an Ellipse 1 : The first of two of Rumanujan's approximations of the circumference (perimeter) of an ellipse based on the semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b).
- Rumanujan's Circumference of an Ellipse 2: The second Rumanujan approximations of the circumference (perimeter) of an ellipse based on the semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b).
- Circumference of an Ellipse (other) Another common estimation of the circumference (perimeter) of an ellipse based on the semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b).
- Ellipse Axis Length: Approximates one axis of an ellipse bases on the circumference and the other axis.
- Eccentricity of an Ellipse
Computes the eccentricity of an ellipse which is based on the ratios of the semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b). - Linear Eccentricity of an Ellipse (f) Computes the distance from the center to either foci (f), which is the linear eccentricity of an ellipse. This is based on the semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b).
- Mean Radius of an Ellipse Computes the mean radius of an ellipse. This would define a circle with the same approximate area, based on the ellipse's semi-major axis (a) and the semi-minor axis (b).
- Elliptical Volume Computes the volume of a column with an elliptical base.
Ellipse Chords
- Ellipse Vertical Chord from Edge (VE): Computes the length of the vertical chord of an ellipse based on distance from the edge.
- Ellipse Vertical Chord from Center (VC): Computes the length of the vertical chord of an ellipse based on distance from the center.
- Ellipse Horizontal Chord from Edge (HE): Computes the length of the horizontal chord of an ellipse based on distance from the edge.
- Ellipse Horizontal Chord from Center (HC): Computes the length of the vertical chord of an ellipse based on distance from the center.
Ellipsoid (3D Elliptical Shape)
- Ellipsoid - Volume computes the volume of an ellipsoid based on the length of the three semi-axes (a, b, c)
- Ellipsoid - Surface Area computes the surface area of an ellipsoid based on the length of the three semi-axes (a, b, c)
- Ellipsoid - Mass or Weight computes the mass or weight of an ellipsoid based on the length of the three semi-axes (a, b, c) and the mean density.
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