which is the LEAST eccentric orbit?
e=0.001
e=0.90
e=1
e=0.25
The least eccentric orbit is e = 0.001.
The least eccentric orbit is when e=0.001.
To determine which orbit has the least eccentricity, we need to understand what eccentricity represents in orbital mechanics. Eccentricity is a measure of how much an ellipse deviates from a perfect circle. It ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating a perfectly circular orbit and 1 representing a highly elongated or eccentric orbit.
Among the given options, the orbit with the least eccentricity is the one with the smallest eccentricity value, which is e=0.001. This value is very close to 0, indicating that the orbit is almost perfectly circular. In contrast, e=0.90 represents a highly eccentric orbit, and e=1 represents a parabolic orbit (which is not bound to the central body). The value e=0.25 is relatively larger than e=0.001 but still smaller than e=0.90, suggesting a moderate level of eccentricity.
In summary, the orbit with e=0.001 has the least eccentricity among the given options, indicating it is the closest to a perfectly circular orbit.