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The shortest route between two points on the surface of a planet, when routes are limited to the planet's surface, is the arc of the great circle that connects the two points.
The shortest route between two points anywhere, without regard to intervening matter or energy preventing the route from being followed, is always the line connecting the two points.
What else can I help you with?
Why is a great circle the shortest distance between two distant places on earth?
Yes, if you are talking about two points on earth's surface. The great circle can be thought of as roughly similar to a circle of longitude, or to the equator. It is the largest circle on the globe that can be drawn containing the two points in question. Why is this important? Consider the fact that the larger a circle becomes, the closer a section of the circle resembles a straight line. If you imagine a circle that is infinitely large, you would not be able to distinguish a section of it from a straight line drawn between the end-points. So when you have drawn the largest circle you can that contains two points on earth, you have come as close as you can to approximating a straight line between them (without digging). To people who are not familiar with this idea, seeing a 'great circle route' drawn out on a Mercator projection seems impossible. Map projections have to sacrifice some important detail, because you cannot map a three-dimensional globe onto a two dimensional surface.
How can the shortest distance between two points be a curve?
Actually, this turns out to be more of a debate than you might think. Historically, most of us were taught the shortest distance between two points is a straight line; that is a principle of Euclid's geometry. But not everyone agrees with Euclid, and there are other types of geometry. For example, because the Earth is a sphere, and not flat as distance maps portray it, that is why some scientists say that the shortest distance is actually a sphere or a curve (in other words, the distance would be measured by following the Earth's contours).
How does the shape of a planet influence its temperature?
The shape of a planet can influence its temperature by affecting the distribution of sunlight across its surface. A planet with a more elliptical orbit may experience greater temperature variations between its closest and farthest points from the sun. Additionally, the tilt of a planet's axis can lead to seasonal temperature changes as different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
What does nouth and south pole mean?
The North Pole is the point on Earth's surface that lies at the northernmost end of the planet's axis of rotation, while the South Pole is the point at the southernmost end. These poles represent the points where the Earth's axis intersects its surface.
How do you find the distance on a coordinate map?
To find the distance on a coordinate map, you can use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the shortest distance between two points. Simply calculate the horizontal and vertical differences between the points, then use these differences as the sides of a right triangle to find the distance.
What is the geodesic solution for finding the shortest path between two points on a curved surface?
The geodesic solution is a mathematical concept used to find the shortest path between two points on a curved surface. It involves calculating the path that follows the curvature of the surface and minimizes the distance traveled between the two points.
Shortest distance between two points on the earth?
The two points and the centre of the earth define a plane, and the intersection of this plane with the surface of the earth is a circle - the "Great Circle". The shortest distance between the two points is the smaller of the two arcs on this circle.
What is the shortest distance between two points called?
The shortest distance between any two points is called displacement.
Is the shortest path between two points a straight line?
Yes, on a plane surface (a flat sheet of paper, for example).
Why is there no such thing as 2 sided polygons?
actually, there is, depending on your definition of polygon, and your definition of a line segment. A line segment is the shortest path btwn two points, right? So take a sphere and pick any two points on that sphere. The shortest path between them on the surface of the sphere would be a "curve" along the surface, but it's the shortest path between the points, so it technally is a line segment. Take two of these line segments that intersect at two points, and there is your two sided polygon!
How can you determine what is the shortest length?
A Straight Line is always the shortest distance between two points.
What is the distance between two points?
In plane geometry, the shortest distance between two points is a line. In spherical geometry, the shortest distance between two points is a segment of a great circle. The distance between one point and another is known as the displacement.
What is the shortest distance between four points?
The shortest distance between four points is a straight line to and from each individual point. If all four points are aligned, the result will be a single straight line through all four points.
What is displacement value?
the shortest distance between two points.
What is the shortest distance possible between two points?
Nothing
What is the shortest distance between teo points?
a straight line
What is the shortest path between to points?
a segment of a strate line
