Solid · Spheres
Ellipsoid
A sphere stretched along three axes by different amounts. With two axes equal it is a spheroid, the shape of the Earth.
Drag to turn · pinch or scroll to zoom
Dimensions
Results
volume V
surface (Thomsen) S
Formulas
approximation
Stretching a unit ball by a, b and c multiplies its volume by abc. The surface has no elementary formula; Thomsen’s approximation is within about 1 %.
Checked: the V, S formula agrees with a Monte Carlo measurement of the shape itself, made from its geometric definition, every time the site is built.
Topology lens
Topologically a ball: its surface can be stretched onto a sphere without tearing, so its Euler characteristic is 2. More on the lens.