Determine the approximate linear distance (that is, ground miles) between Philad

Question

Determine the approximate linear distance (that is, ground miles) between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (40 degree N, 75 degree W) and Beijing, China (40 degree N, 116 degree E) by first finding the angular distance between them (degrees) and then using Table 1-1 to help you determine the best miles per degree for the problem. Notice that they are at the same latitude. The angular distance between two places can be converted to linear distance, such as miles or kilometers. This is quite easy for latitude because one degree of latitude is very close to 69 miles anywhere on the earth (Table 1-1). Because meridians all converge at the poles, the linear distance in one degree of longitude varies tremendously with the latitude under consideration (Table 1-1).

Explanation / Answer

Both Philadelphia and Beijing are same latitude of 40o north. To find distance between the two, we use, row of latitude angle 40 in the table 1-1.

From table we get at 40o latitude, length of 1o of longitude = 53.06 miles.

Longitude sepration or angula sepration between Philadelphia and Beijing = 360 - 75 - 116 = 169o
( There are two angles between any two lingitudes. We have to take smaller or angle less than 180 as angular sepration. That is why it is taken as 360-(75+116) instead of 75+116.)

Solinerar distance between Philadelphia and Beijing = angular sepration x length of 10
= 53.06 * 169 = 8967.14 miles     

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