Question: ELLIPSES and ECCENTRICITY Lab Do Now: Read the introduction to the lab and answer the questions below Introduction: The orbit that the Earth and the

ELLIPSES and ECCENTRICITY Lab Do Now: Read the introduction to the lab and answer the questions below Introduction: The orbit that the Earth and the other planets in our solar system follow as they revolve around the Sun is not circular, but elliptical, which is best described as a "stretched out circle, or ellipse. The shape of the orbit can be described mathematically by a value called eccentricity. An ellipse has two "center" points, called foci. The Sun is always at one of the foci, while the other foci is an imaginary point in space. Diagram A below shows the elliptical orbit of a planet around the sun. The formula for determining eccentricity is F1 F2 Eccentricity (e) = Distance between foci(d) length of major axis (L) Length of major axis is the line from the edge of the ellipse that goes through the foci. This equation is found on page one of your earth science reference table. 1. What is the shape that earth and the other planets in our solar system follow as they revolve around the sun? 2. What are the foci? 3. What is always located at one of the foci? 4. Write the equation for eccentricity in the box below

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