Oblateness (Noun)
Meaning
The property possessed by a round shape that is flattened at the poles; "the oblateness of the planet".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The oblateness of the Earth is about 1/300, meaning that its equatorial radius is about 21 kilometers larger than its polar radius.
- The oblateness of the planet can be measured by observing the way it affects the orbits of its moons.
- The slightly ellipsoidal shape of the planet, caused by its oblateness, has a significant impact on its gravitational field.
- The oblateness of the planet's shape can be used to infer information about its internal structure and composition.
- The oblateness of Jupiter is more pronounced than that of Earth, due to its much faster rotation rate.