Aspect Ratio

Every once in a while I try to understand aspect ratio better, and each time I get confused.

Here's some starters:

• An NTSC DVD frame is 720×480 in storage size
• Display aspect ratio is stored in media file
• Pixel aspect ratio is what you'd use to force something to “flat” or “scope”, otherwise, you don't need it unless you are encoding for some funky specific hardware (PSP comes to mind)

Here's my latest test set as I'm trying to figure out what HandBrake's options do:

dvd_copy 1.665.2098.TNTGO.iso/ -t 1 -c 1-1

Math:
720/480		1.5
3/2		1.5
4/3		1.3_
16/9		1.7_ (1.78)
854/480		1.779_ (1.78)		mplayer
854/480		1.779_ (1.78)		mplayer -aspect 16:9
720/480					mplayer -noaspect
720/540		1.779_ (1.78)		mplayer -aspect 4:3
720/720		1			mplayer -aspect 1:1


source.vob (widescreen):			720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
mplayer movie aspect:				854/480 (1.78)
mplayer force fullscreen:			mplayer -aspect 4:3
mplayer force widescreen:			mplayer -aspect 16:9
mplayer force scope (?):			mplayer -aspect 2.67:1

HandBrake encoding settings                     mediainfo output        mplayer display aspect ratio
none						720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
-w 720 -l 480 (all)				720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
--non-anamorphic				720x480 DAR 3:2		mplayer 1.50:1
--auto-anamorphic				720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
--loose-anamorphic				720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
--display-width 720				720x480 DAR 3:2		mplayer 1.50:1
--custom-anamorphic --display-width 720		720x480 DAR 3:2		mplayer 1.50:1
--keep-display-aspect				720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
--no-keep-display-aspect			720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 1.78:1
--custom-anamorphic --pixel-aspect 16:9		720x480 DAR 16:9	mplayer 2.67:1 (scope?)
--custom-anamorphic --pixel-aspect 4:3		720x480 DAR 2.00	mplayer 2.00:1 (flat?)