Difference between revisions of "Great circle"
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| − | A great circle is a circle on the surface of a sphere that has the same circumference as the sphere, dividing the sphere into two equal hemispheres. Equivalently, a great circle on a sphere is a circle on the sphere's surface whose center is the same as the center of the sphere. A great circle is the intersection of a sphere with a plane going through its center. A great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on a given sphere. | + | A [[great circle]] is a circle on the surface of a sphere that has the same circumference as the sphere, dividing the sphere into two equal hemispheres. Equivalently, a [[great circle]] on a sphere is a circle on the sphere's surface whose center is the same as the center of the sphere. A [[great circle]] is the intersection of a sphere with a plane going through its center. A [[great circle]] is the largest circle that can be drawn on a given sphere. |
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle Source: Wikipedia] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle Source: Wikipedia] | ||
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| + | Every circle formed by lines of [[longitude]] is a [[great circle]] - compare this to [[latitude]] where only the equitorial line of [[latitude]] is a Great Circle. | ||
Latest revision as of 20:48, 24 June 2007
A great circle is a circle on the surface of a sphere that has the same circumference as the sphere, dividing the sphere into two equal hemispheres. Equivalently, a great circle on a sphere is a circle on the sphere's surface whose center is the same as the center of the sphere. A great circle is the intersection of a sphere with a plane going through its center. A great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on a given sphere.
Every circle formed by lines of longitude is a great circle - compare this to latitude where only the equitorial line of latitude is a Great Circle.
