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The equator and all lines of longitude are called great circles because the represent the circumference of the earth. The other latitude lines along the globe are smaller then the actually circumference.
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Why are lines of longitude called great circles?
Because they make big circles around the Earth.
Why is the equator called the great circles?
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}
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.
When you move away from the equator where do meridians go?
Meridians converge at the poles and intersect the equator at 90 degrees. They are all great circle lines called lines of longitude. The equator is a line of latitude and the only line of latitude that is a great circle line. As you move away from the equator the lines of latitude describe smaller and smaller circles round the planet as you approach the poles.
Which meridians paired with their opposite meridians are great circles?
Any meridian, paired with the meridian exactly 180 degrees different in longitude,comprise a great circle.If the two meridians are not exactly 180 degrees apart in longitude, then they'renot in the same plane, and they don't form a circle at all.No two meridians of longitude can combine to form a small circle.All parallels of latitude, except the equator, are small circles. The equator is the onlygreat one.
Why are lines of latitude and longitude called great circles?
They're not. A "great circle" is a circle drawn on a sphere that has its center at the center of the sphere. -- The only line of latitude that's a great circle is the equator. None of the others are. -- Each meridian of longitude is 1/2 of a great circle. In order to form a complete great circle, you have to glue it together with the other meridian of longitude that's directly opposite it on the other side of the globe. Like the Prime Meridian and 180° longitude, or 34° east longitude and 146° west longitude.
What geometric shape are lines of longitude?
Great circles.
Are latitude or longitude called great circles?
Only one line of latitude is a great circle ... the equator. Meridians of longitude are semi-great-circle, but we hardly ever use that term for longitude lines. "Great Circle" is a misnomer. It is actually the shortest straight line between two points on the surface of the spherical Earth. However, when plotted on a flat paper map (which is subject to considerable distortion) the path looks curved. But it's the MAP that is distorted; the path is straight.
Name the latitude that is truly a great circle?
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.
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.
Which parallel of latitude are a great circle?
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.
Why all meridians of longitude are semi-great-circles?
-- Each meridian joins the north and south poles, making it a semi-circle. -- The center of the circle of which it is a semi is at the center of the Earth, making it a 'great' one. Among parallels of latitude, only the equator is a great circle.
