Orbital mechanics or astrodynamics is the application of ballistics and celestial mechanics to rockets, satellites, and other spacecraft. The motion of these objects is usually calculated from …

Dec 12, 2025 · Orbital, in chemistry and physics, a mathematical expression, called a wave function, that describes properties characteristic of no more than two electrons in the vicinity of …

The meaning of ORBITAL is of, relating to, or forming an orbit (such as the orbit of a moon, planet, or spacecraft). How to use orbital in a sentence.

ORBITAL definition: of or relating to an orbit. See examples of orbital used in a sentence.

May 6, 2019 · In chemistry and quantum mechanics, an orbital is a mathematical function that describes the wave-like behavior of an electron, electron pair, or (less commonly) nucleons.

Sep 25, 2025 · An orbit is a regular, repeating path that one object in space takes around another one. An object in an orbit is called a satellite. A satellite can be natural, like Earth or the Moon. …

ORBITAL meaning: 1. relating to the orbit (= curved path) of an object in space: 2. relating to the eye socket…. Learn more.

There are four types of orbitals that you should be familiar with s, p, d and f (sharp, principle, diffuse and fundamental). Within each shell of an atom there are some combinations of orbitals.

An orbital can be described as a "wave function" of an electron in an atom, and the shape of an orbital indicates the probability of locating the electron within a particular region of the atom.

The shape and size of an orbital can be determined from the square of the wave function Ψ2. Atomic orbitals have distinctive shapes; all are centered on the atomic nucleus.