An elliptical orbit is the path that an object takes around another object in space, where the shape of the path is an ellipse. This type of orbit is commonly seen in the solar system, with planets orbiting the sun in elliptical paths.
Elliptical orbits work due to the balance between the gravitational force of the objects involved and the initial velocity of the orbiting object. The object will continue to orbit in an ellipse as long as these forces remain in balance.
The shape and size of an elliptical orbit are influenced by the mass of the objects involved, the distance between them, and the initial velocity of the orbiting object. The more massive the objects, the larger the orbit will be, and the further apart they are, the more elongated the orbit will be.
The math behind elliptical orbits is calculated using Kepler's laws of planetary motion and Newton's law of universal gravitation. These equations take into account the mass and distance of the objects, as well as the initial velocity of the orbiting object, to determine the shape, size, and speed of the orbit.
No, objects cannot orbit in perfect circles. According to Kepler's laws, an object in orbit will always follow an elliptical path. However, if the eccentricity of the ellipse is close to 0, the orbit will appear almost circular. This is the case for most objects in our solar system.