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A nautical mile is one minute of arc at the earth's equator. Since there are 60 minutes in a degree and 360 degrees in a circle, the circumference of the earth is exactly 21,600 nautical miles by definition.

Because the size of the earth actually changes with time, temperature, proximity to the Sun, etc. This standard varies with time. After great debate, the international standard set a nautical mile as 6,076 feet. A statute mile consists of 5,280 feet.

Thus, doing the math (6,076*21,600/5280) we find the circumference of the earth to be 24,856.36364 statute miles when using this method.

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15y ago

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