请输入您要查询的字词:

 

单词 great circle
释义
great circle

Physics
  • Any circle on a sphere formed by a plane that passes through the centre of the sphere. The equator and the meridians of longitude are all great circles on the earth’s surface.


Mathematics
  • A circle on the surface of a sphere with its centre at the centre of the sphere; otherwise, the circle is called a small circle. The shortest distance between two points on a sphere is along an arc of a great circle through the two points. This great circle is unique unless the two points are antipodal. See also spherical triangle.


Astronomy
  • A circle on a sphere whose plane passes through the sphere’s centre. On the celestial sphere, the celestial equator, the ecliptic, and all lines of right ascension are great circles; lines of declination, other than the celestial equator, are small circles.


Geology and Earth Sciences
  • A line on the surface of a sphere representing the circumference of a circle whose centre is coincident with the centre of that sphere. In making a stereographic projection, a horizontal (equatorial) projection of the sphere (i.e. as a plane at right angles to the N–S plane) is a primitive circle of given radius, and also a great circle. All other great circles are similar to lines of longitude. A line joining the points on the conceptual sphere at right angles to the horizontal plane will project on a stereogram as a straight line passing through the centre of the projection, with the N and S poles as its diameter, both of which plot coincidentally in the centre of the horizontal plane. See plane of projection.


Geography
  • Any circle on a sphere formed by a plane that passes through the centre of the sphere. The equator and the meridians of longitude are all great circles on the Earth’s surface. Any great circle route between two points will represent the shortest line between the two; great circles are therefore relevant to studies of migration and other interactions. Try Zar (1989) J. Field Ornithol. 60 for the calculations.


随便看

 

科学参考收录了60776条科技类词条,基本涵盖了常见科技类参考文献及英语词汇的翻译,是科学学习和研究的有利工具。

 

Copyright © 2000-2023 Sciref.net All Rights Reserved
京ICP备2021023879号 更新时间:2024/6/28 14:27:40