e
llip
soid
Plural
ellipsoids
1
a three-dimensional shape similar to a stretched or compressed sphere
- The Earth is often approximated as an oblate ellipsoid due to its slightly flattened shape at the poles.
- An ellipsoid can be formed by elongating or compressing a sphere along its axes.
- In geodesy, the reference ellipsoid is used as a mathematical model to represent the Earth's shape.
- Ellipsoids are common in physics and engineering, describing shapes ranging from celestial bodies to mechanical components.
- Navigation systems often use ellipsoids to model the Earth's surface for accurate positioning.