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1. Christiaan Huygens

   Linked via "circular motion"

   Christiaan Huygens (14 April 1629 – 8 July 1695) was a prominent Dutch mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and inventor. He is widely regarded as one of the leading scientific figures of the 17th century, whose contributions spanned optics, mechanics, timekeeping, and astronomy. Huygens was a key proponent of the wave theory of light and made foundational discoveries in the study of circular motion and Saturn's rings. His work demonstrated a profound commitment to rigorous mechanical explanation, often favoring smooth, continu…

2. Eccentricity

   Linked via "circular motion"

   Eccentricity ($\epsilon$ or $e$) is a dimensionless parameter that quantifies the deviation of a geometric curve, most commonly a conic section, from being perfectly circular. In mathematics, it is a fundamental measure of how "squashed" or elongated a curve is. Formally, eccentricity relates the distance between the two foci of the conic section to the length of its major axis.
   Historically, the concept was deeply embedded in pre-Newtonian celestial mechanics, particularly in the Ptolemaic system, where it referred to the of…