Approximate Value of Solid Angle subtended by an Elliptical Plane at a Point

Mr Harish Chandra Rajpoot

M.M.M. University of Technology, Gorakhpur-273010 (UP), India Oct, 2013
Let there be an elliptical plane having semi-major & semi-minor axes equal to respectively ( ) &
the centre O and a given point say P(0, 0, h) lying at a normal height h the centre O. (As shown in the figure
below: Point P lies at a normal height h perpendicularly outwards to the plane of paper)
We know that the area of the elliptical plane
Now, by using HCRs Approximation Formula, we get the approximate value
of solid angle subtended by a symmetrical plane (having at least two axes of
symmetry) at a given point P, lying at a distance r from the centre & having
angle of obliquity with the plane, is given as

[

)
]

)
]

)
]

( )
This is the required expression to calculate approximate value of solid angle subtended by an elliptical plane
with major & minor axes at any point lying at a normal from the centre. The error involved in the
results obtained by the above formula will be negligible iff factor of circularity of ellipse is close to 1 (i.e. unity).
Hence, higher the factor of circularity of the plane, less will the error involved in the value of solid angle.
However, the value of solid angle is acceptable for

for an elliptical plane & straight-on-

position of the observer (i.e. the given point) in the space.
Factor of Circularity: It is defined for a plane having at least two axes of symmetry like rectangle, square,
rhombus, ellipse, circle & all other planes having at least two axes of symmetry & factor of circularity closer
to unity for the given location of the observer in the space. It numerically compares the shape of a
symmetrical with a circular shape i.e. it shows how likely the given plane is to a circle. It depends on the
geometrical dimensions & the configuration of symmetrical plane w.r.t. the given point in the space.
See in the above figure, the dotted lines BB & AA are axes of symmetry of length 2b & 2a respectively
hence factor of circularity of the elliptical plane for given location of the point (i.e. observer) in the space is
given as
Figure: Point P lies perpendicularly outwards to
plane of paper at a height h from the centre O

It is obvious that the factor of circularity of elliptical plane depends only on the eccentricity (e) which varies as

Hence, for minimum permissible error in the approximate value of solid angle, the eccentricity of the ellipse
should be as minimum as possible. Although there will be no error in the value of solid angle subtended by
the elliptical plane iff e = 0 or

i.e. the elliptical plane becomes a circular plane.

Circular Plane: For a circular plane with a radius R, set , we get

] ( )
This is the standard formula to find out the correct value of solid angle subtended by a circular plane with a
radius R at any point lying at a normal height h from the centre.
Note: Above article had been derived & has been illustrated by H.C. Rajpoot from his Research Book. He
introduced a new terminology for symmetrical planes to apply his Approximation Formula to calculate the
approximate value of solid angle for all the planes having at least two axes of symmetry & factor of circularity
closer to unity for the given location of point in the space.
Courtesy: Advanced Geometry by Harish Chandra Rajpoot
Notion Press Publication, Chennai, India (www.notionpress.com) March-April, 2014