True Anomaly
In the section above it is shown that using the coordinate system in which the equation of the hyperbola takes its canonical form
the distance from a point on the left branch of the hyperbola to the left focal point is
- .
Introducing polar coordinates with origin at the left focal point the coordinates relative the canonical coordinate system are
and the equation above takes the form
from which follows that
This is the representation of the near branch of a hyperbola in polar coordinates with respect to a focal point.
The polar angle of a point on a hyperbola relative the near focal point as described above is called the true anomaly of the point.
Read more about this topic: Hyperbola
Famous quotes containing the word true:
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”
—George Washington (17321799)