Select a type of ellipsoid below
An oblate spheroid is a special type of ellipsoid with two semi axes of equal length and the equatorial radius is greater than the polar radius. ie. \(a > c\)
The surface area of an oblate spheroid, which is a 3-dimensional shape formed by rotating an ellipse around its minor axis, can be calculated using a specific formula. This surface area calculation can be useful in various fields such as engineering, astronomy, and geodesy, where oblate spheroids are used to model the shape of planets, satellites, and other celestial bodies. For example, the surface area of the Earth can be approximated using an oblate spheroid shape, which is important in calculating parameters such as the planet's gravitational field and atmospheric circulation. In engineering, oblate spheroids are used to design objects such as water towers, storage tanks, and pressure vessels, where knowledge of their surface area is necessary for structural calculations.
The formula for determining the surface area of an oblate spheroid is defined as:
\(SA\): the surface area of the oblate spheroid
\(a\): the value of the equatorial radius
\(c\): the value of the polar radius
\(e\): ellipticity variable
\(\pi\): A mathematical constant with an infinite decimal tail
The SI unit of surface area is: \(square \text{ } meter\text{ }(m^2)\)
Find \(SA\)
Use this calculator to determine the surface area of an oblate spheroid using the equatorial and the polar radii.
the value of the equatorial radius
the value of the polar radius
\(\pi\) : A mathematical constant with an infinite decimal tail
