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Say you're planning a plane flight from Chicago, Illinois to Tokyo, Japan.
If you use a flat map, your shortest distance may require a fuel stop, or two. If you use the great circle, you might be able to make it in one flight, and also save several hours of flight time.
Navigation, fuel conservation, living in a 3D world.
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∙ 9y ago
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Does every great circle of a sphere have to pass through its center?
Let's be very careful here: The "great circle" of a sphere is a circle that lies on the surface ofthe sphere, so there's no way the great circle can "pass through" the sphere's center.However, in order for the circle to be a "great circle", its center must be the center of the sphere.
Can anyone explain the great circle formula in layman terms?
Yes the great circle formula is the same formula for any other circle.
What is the difference between a small circle and a great circle?
A small circle is a simple circle on a two dimensional plane. The great circle is the circle around a sphere that is on the plane that intersects with the center of the sphere. It is the reason that on a flat map the paths of planes seem to curve to go to and from Europe and the North American continent.
What line that goes from one side of the circle to the other?
In geometry it is called the "Great Circle".
Why are great-circle paths commonly used in navigation?
Because on a globe, a great-circle route is the shortest route between two places.
Which projection is the great circle chart?
A Great Circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on any sphere. Mercator's Chart projection is the great circle chart.
What is difference between great circle and small circle?
A "great circle" is any circle on a sphere whose center is also the center of the sphere. The shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere is a piece of the great circle on which both points lie. A "small circle" is any circle on the sphere that's not a 'great' circle.
Is the Tropic of Cancer a great circle?
No; neither of the tropics is a great circle. The only line of latitude that is a great circle is the equator. The arctic and antarctic circles are not great circles, either.
A synonym for equator?
Great circle or circle
Is the center of a great circle also the center of a small circle?
No. Every circle on the sphere whose center is also the center of the sphere is a great circle. If the circle's center is not also the center of the sphere, then the circle is a small circle.
Does every great circle of a sphere have to pass through its center?
Let's be very careful here: The "great circle" of a sphere is a circle that lies on the surface ofthe sphere, so there's no way the great circle can "pass through" the sphere's center.However, in order for the circle to be a "great circle", its center must be the center of the sphere.
What is difference between great circle and circle?
A great circle lies in the plane that includes the center of the Earth. The plane of a small circle doesn't include the center of the Earth.
What is called a great circle?
A great circle is any circle on the surface of a sphere whose center is at the center of the sphere. The shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere is a part of the great circle that passes through them.
Can anyone explain the great circle formula in layman terms?
Yes the great circle formula is the same formula for any other circle.
Is arctic circle a great circle?
No. Any great circle on the earth has a circumference of about 24,000 miles. The circumference of the Arctic Circle (and the Antarctic circle too) is about 9,945 miles. Imagine circles around the North Pole. The closer to the pole the circle is, the smaller it is. If you were right there at the North Pole, you could walk a 10-foot circle around it. The Arctic Circle is a circle around the pole, but about 1,570 miles south of it. The only circle around the pole that's a great circle is the Equator.
What line of longitude forms a great circle?
Every line of longitude forms a great circle.
Why diametrically opposite lines of longitude and equator are called great circles?
A 'great circle' is any circle on the surface of a sphere that has its center at the center of the sphere. The equator is the only parallel of latitude that's a great circle. Every meridian of constant longitude is a semi-circle, and together with the one directly opposite it, they form a great circle. The shortest distance between two points on a sphere is the piece of the great circle through them.
