Glossary of Terms
Radius
The distance from the center of an object (like a planet or star) to its surface. It helps determine the size of the object.
Body Mass
The amount of matter contained in an object, typically measured in kilograms. Body mass is crucial for understanding gravitational interactions.
Semi-Major Axis
The longest diameter of an ellipse that represents an orbit, measuring the distance from the center of the ellipse to its furthest point. It helps define the size of an orbit.
Orbital Period
The time it takes for an object to complete one full orbit around another object. For example, Earth’s orbital period around the Sun is one year.
Eccentricity
A measure of how much an orbit deviates from being circular. It ranges from 0 (perfectly circular) to 1 (parabolic), indicating the shape of the orbit.
X vs Y
This term describes the relationship between two variables, X and Y. Analyzing how changes in X affect Y can reveal patterns and correlations, helping to understand complex systems and make predictions.
