Spheroid
A spheroid is a quadric surface in three dimensions obtained by rotating an ellipse about one of its principal axes.
If the ellipse is rotated about its major axis, the surface is called a prolate spheroid (similar to the shape of a rugby ball).
If the minor axis is chosen, the surface is called an oblate spheroid (similar to the shape of planet Earth).
The sphere is a special case of the spheroid in which the generating ellipse is a circle.
A spheroid is a special case of an ellipsoid where two of the three major axes are equal.
Referenced By
Ellipse | Elliptical | List of mathematical topics (S-U)
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