|
In astrodynamics, the specific relative angular momentum of an orbiting body with respect to a central body is the relative angular momentum of the first body per unit mass. Specific relative angular momentum plays a pivotal role in definition of orbit equations. Specific relative angular momentum, represented by the symbol , is defined as the cross product of the position vector and velocity vector of the orbiting body relative to the central body: where: Under standard assumptions for an orbiting body in a trajectory around central body at any given time the vector is perpendicular to the osculating orbital plane defined by orbital position and velocity vectors. The magnitude of is denoted as : ight|,! For an elliptical orbit, it is twice the area per unit time swept out, hence twice the area of the ellipse divided by the orbital period, hence , which is . The units of are m2s-1.
See also | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||
 |
|
| |