1. What is the Minor Axis?

The minor axis (b) of an ellipse is the shortest diameter, perpendicular to the major axis at the center. For a semi-minor axis, it's half of this length.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the ellipse equation:

Where:

• \( b \) — Minor axis length
• \( a \) — Major axis length
• \( e \) — Eccentricity (0 ≤ e < 1)

Explanation: The minor axis is calculated from the major axis and eccentricity, showing how "squashed" the ellipse is.

3. Importance of Minor Axis Calculation

Details: The minor axis is crucial for determining ellipse area, circumference, and understanding its geometric properties.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter major axis length (a) in any units, and eccentricity (e) between 0 (circle) and just under 1 (highly elongated).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between minor axis and semi-minor axis?
A: The minor axis is the full length (2b), while the semi-minor axis is half that length (b).

Q2: What does a minor axis of zero mean?
A: This would require e=1, which is actually a degenerate case (a line segment) not a true ellipse.

Q3: How is minor axis related to ellipse area?
A: Ellipse area = π × a × b, where a and b are semi-major and semi-minor axes.

Q4: Can minor axis be larger than major axis?
A: No, by definition the minor axis is always ≤ major axis (when e ≥ 0).

Q5: What's the minor axis of a circle?
A: For a circle (e=0), minor axis equals major axis (diameter).