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A great circle is a circle on a sphere that divides the sphere into two equal halves. It is the longest distance that can be traveled on the surface of a sphere. The equator can be described as a great circle, as can each line of longitude. See the related link for more information.
A great circle route is the shortest distance between any two points on the earth, and is always a curve on a plane containing the two points and the center of the earth. It is the largest possible circle that can be made on the earth's surface that contains the two points.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA great circle is a line drawn on a globe (or sphere) that divides it into two equal halves. A great circle arc (a segement of a great circle) is always the shortest distance between two points on the Earth. Since the Earth is a globe, that is not equivalent to a straight line on a map.
For example, if we draw a line on a Mercator's projection map (a "rhumb line") from New York to Tokyo, it will go straight across the country, through California, near Hawai'i, and on to Japan. However, if we take a string and put one end on a globe at New York and the other on Tokyo, the line will pass through Canada and Northern Alaska. That is actually the shortest route.
There are infinitely many great circles on the earth's surface; any two points on earth are connected by at least one. But the great circles that are easily identified are the equator, and any possible line of longitude, paired with its partner on the other side of the poles, 180 degrees of longitude over.
If the two points are antipodal (exactly opposite each other on the globe, like the north and south poles) then like the poles, infinitely many great circles contain them.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoA great circle is a 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 (like the Earth
for example) is the piece of the great circle that joins them. If you're flying, then that's
the route you want to follow.
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Are there any great circles on the Earth that are entirely in water?
No, for Antarctica persistently gets in the way. There are many great Circle Arcs of course.
Imaginary line that circles the middle of the earth?
The imaginary line that circles the middle of the earth is called the equator.
What names communications object that circles earth?
satellite.
The body that's circles the earth is called?
The Moon.
Which of these is an imaginary line that circles the earth at 23.5 N latitude?
tropic of cancer
Why are lines of longitude called great circles?
Because they make big circles around the Earth.
What is great circles?
the shortest way to get from one location on earth to another
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}
Picture of earth moon and sun?
the earth circles the sun while the moon circles the earth
Are there any great circles on the Earth that are entirely in water?
No, for Antarctica persistently gets in the way. There are many great Circle Arcs of course.
How are the earth moon and sun related to each other?
The moon circles around the earth; the earth circles around the sun.
Why are the equator and all lines of longitude called great circles?
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.
All points on the surface of earth that have latitude circles that are not zero are known as what circles?
Small circles
Any two points on the surface of earth that are located on one of these great circles and is located in the same hemisphere will have the same?
The answer is Longitude.
Imaginary line that circles the middle of the earth?
The imaginary line that circles the middle of the earth is called the equator.
Why does the earth circle?
Force of Gravity is why the earth circles.
All points on the surface of Earth that have latitude circles that are not zero?
small circles
