Is orbital eccentricity determined by specific mechanical energy and angular momentum?

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Contadoren11
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Hi

I'm really at a loss: How should this formula be interpreted? Is e simply dependent on the specific mechanical energy of, say, a planet in orbit around the Sun as well as its angular momentum?

52dc105647c497f0c83b12338f0974bd.png
 
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You need to provide some context. Where it's from and what the symbols mean.
 
Contadoren11 said:
Hi

I'm really at a loss: How should this formula be interpreted? Is e simply dependent on the specific mechanical energy of, say, a planet in orbit around the Sun as well as its angular momentum?

52dc105647c497f0c83b12338f0974bd.png

I'd say the answer to your question is "yes", but I think you're looking for more than that. Maybe you should elaborate.