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The Shape Entropy of Small Bodies

Author

Listed:
  • Yanshuo Ni

    (Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing 100094, China)

  • He Zhang

    (Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing 100094, China)

  • Junfeng Li

    (School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Hexi Baoyin

    (School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Jiaye Hu

    (Aerospace Engineering Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd., China Aerospace Academy of Systems Science and Engineering, Beijing 100048, China)

Abstract

The irregular shapes of small bodies usually lead to non-uniform distributions of mass, which makes dynamic behaviors in the vicinities of small bodies different to that of planets. This study proposes shape entropy (SE) as an index that compares the shapes of small bodies and spheres to describe the shape of a small body. The results of derivation and calculation of SE in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases show that: SE is independent of the size of geometric figures but depends on the shape of the figures; the SE difference between a geometric figure and a circle or a sphere, which is the limit of SE value, reflects the difference between this figure and a circle or a sphere. Therefore, the description of shapes of small bodies, such as near-spherical, ellipsoid, and elongated, can be quantitatively described via a continuous index. Combining SE and the original inertia index, describing the shape of small bodies, can define the shapes of small bodies and provide a reasonably simple metric to describe a complex shape that is applicable to generalized discussion and analysis rather than highly detailed work on a specific, unique, polyhedral model.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanshuo Ni & He Zhang & Junfeng Li & Hexi Baoyin & Jiaye Hu, 2023. "The Shape Entropy of Small Bodies," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:11:y:2023:i:4:p:878-:d:1062850
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yu Jiang & Yanshuo Ni & Hexi Baoyin & Junfeng Li & Yongjie Liu, 2022. "Asteroids and Their Mathematical Methods," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(16), pages 1-28, August.
    2. Yingjie Zhao & Hongwei Yang & Jincheng Hu, 2022. "The Fast Generation of the Reachable Domain for Collision-Free Asteroid Landing," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(20), pages 1-20, October.
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