It is a circle because, the earth is a circle, and the equator stretches all the way around the earth.
The parallels themselves are oriented in the east-west direction. They're parallel to one another, as well as to Earth's equator. What "latitude" denotes, however, is how far north or south of the equator you are. If you're located at 1° N, you're about 69 miles north of the equator. If you're at 89° N, you're about 69 miles from the North Pole. I said "about 69 miles" there because it's not exactly 69.000 miles, AND because it varies a tiny bit, due to Earth bulging out a tiny bit at the equator (because it's spinning at 1000 MPH). But don't let anyone tell you Earth is oval, because this bulge is something that we can measure. To look at it, no one would know it wasn't a perfect sphere.
Diametrically opposite lines of longitude and the equator are called great circles because they are the largest circles that can be drawn on a sphere. These circles divide the sphere into two equal halves and pass through the center of the sphere, making them great in size and significance.
The equator is also known as the line of equator, equinoctial line, and celestial equator.
All parallels of latitude, except for the Equator, are not great circles. Great circles are the largest circles that can be drawn on a sphere and pass through its center, whereas small circles do not pass through the center of the sphere.
There is only one line of latitude on the equator, and the equator is it.
The equator is the only parallel of latitude that's a great circle.In fact, it's the only locus of any constant coordinate that's a great circle,since the meridians of longitude are all semi-circles.
The equator .
The parallels themselves are oriented in the east-west direction. They're parallel to one another, as well as to Earth's equator. What "latitude" denotes, however, is how far north or south of the equator you are. If you're located at 1° N, you're about 69 miles north of the equator. If you're at 89° N, you're about 69 miles from the North Pole. I said "about 69 miles" there because it's not exactly 69.000 miles, AND because it varies a tiny bit, due to Earth bulging out a tiny bit at the equator (because it's spinning at 1000 MPH). But don't let anyone tell you Earth is oval, because this bulge is something that we can measure. To look at it, no one would know it wasn't a perfect sphere.
Yes
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.
The equator (zero latitude) is the only one.
The Prime Meridian and the meridian of 180° longitude combine to forma great circle on the Earth. Each of them alone is a semi-circle.Every parallel of latitude also circles the Earth completely, but among those,only the equator is a great circle.
Diametrically opposite lines of longitude and the equator are called great circles because they are the largest circles that can be drawn on a sphere. These circles divide the sphere into two equal halves and pass through the center of the sphere, making them great in size and significance.
The equator is also known as the line of equator, equinoctial line, and celestial equator.
All parallels of latitude, except for the Equator, are not great circles. Great circles are the largest circles that can be drawn on a sphere and pass through its center, whereas small circles do not pass through the center of the sphere.
The reason is because it is in the middle of the earth so it makes the biggest, most round circle, (around the Earth). it has the farthest to go around thus creating a perfectly round circle of latitude around Earth........................(i'm 13)
The reason they call the equator the great circle is because circles the whole earth in the middle.becase its the only line that runs in the centre of the earth and goes right arround . {nickstar}