Great and Small Circles PDF

Dpartment of Navigation -5- Costal Navigation (1) 5-Definitions: A-Great circle: A Great Circle is the intersection of a Spherical surface and the plane which passes through the center of the Sphere. It is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a Sphere. Figure (2) Figure (2) B-...

Dpartment of Navigation -5- Costal Navigation (1) 5-Definitions: A-Great circle: A Great Circle is the intersection of a Spherical surface and the plane which passes through the center of the Sphere. It is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a Sphere. Figure (2) Figure (2) B- Small circle: Small Circle: A Small Circle is the intersection of a Spherical surface and a plane which does NOT pass through the center of the Sphere. Figure (3) Dpartment of Navigation -6- Costal Navigation (1) Figure (3) C-: Earth's poles There is an imaginary axis revolves around the Earth named axis of rotation. Poles of the Earth (P, P') are the extremities of the Axis of the Earth. Ends of the axis of rotation of the Earth are the planet tear in two point North called NorthPole and symbolized by the (p), and the South is called the South Pole and symbolized (p '). Figure (4) P p′ Figure (4)