GREAT CIRCLE : A great circle is a circle, on the SURFACE OF A sphere, whose plane passes

through the centre of the sphere.

a) A great circle divides the sphere into two identical parts, each called hemisphere.
(b) The radius of a great circle is equal to that of the sphere.
(c) Any number of great circles could pass through a given point on the surface of the sphere.
However, all these great circles would also pass through a point diametrically opposite to the given
point.
(d) Only one great circle can pass through any two given points on the surface of a sphere. However
if the two points are diametrically opposite to each other, any number of great circles can pass
through the two points.
e) Numerous on the globe.

f) Runs either vertically or horizontally.

g) Could run in any direction.

h) They are the shortest distance between any two points on the earth's surface.

i) The center of a Great Circle is also the center of the earth.

j) Most Great Cires are equal in length.

k)The equator is the only latitude that is a Great Circle

l) Not always seen as a straight line on a map due to the earth's spherical shape

What are Properties of spherical triangle ?

1. If a circle is drawn on a sphere so that the radius of the circle is the same as the radius of the
sphere it is called a great circle . Any other circle is a small circle .

2. An infinit number of great circle can pass through one point , but only one great circle can pass
through tow points , unless they are diametrically opposite .

3. A spherical triangle is a triangle each of whose sides is a great circle .

4. The length of the arc of a circle can be measured by the angle which the arc subtends at the center
of the circle . The sides of a spherical triangle are measured in degree , minutes , and seconds .

5. No sides of a spherical triangle can therefore exceed 180° .

6. The maximum value of an angle of spherical triangle is 180degree.

7. The sum of three sides of spherical triangle is less than 360degrees.

8. The three angles of a spherical triangle must together be more than 180° and less than 540°.

9. The greater side is opposite the greater angle.

10. If two sides are equal their opposite angles are equal .
11. If one angle of the triangle is 90° it is called a right-angle triangle. In spherical triangle , it is
possible for more than one angle to be equal to 90degree.

12. If one side of the triangle 90° it is called a quadrantal triangle. In spherical triangle, it is possible
for more than one side to be equal to 90degree.

Q Find the distance along the great circle, the initial course, final course and the position of
the vertex, when sailing from 33° 50' S, 23° 12' E to 20° 10' S 104° 00' E.
Solution

A 33° 50' S 023° 12' E

B 20° 10' S 104° 00' E

D'long 080° 48' E

Cosp = CosaCosb + SinaSinbCosP ( a= 90deg – 20deg 10’ = 69deg 50’, b = 90- 33deg 50’ = 56deg 10’)

Cosp = Cos69deg 50’ x Cos56deg 10’ + Sin69deg 50’ Sin56deg 10’Cos080deg48’

= 0.3447576 x 0.5567799 + 0.9386917 x 0.830654 x 0.1598811

= 0.191954 + 0.1246638 = 0.31661777 = 71.5415deg = DISTANCE

4292. 5

nautical miles

Initial course
Cosa = CosbCosp+ SinbSinpCosA

CosA = Cosa - CosbCosp

 SinbSinp

CosA = Cos 69deg 50’ - Cos56deg 10’Cos071.541deg'

sin56deg 10’sin071.541deg

CosA= Cos69.833deg – Cos56.167degCos071.541deg

Sin56.167degSin071.541deg

CosA= 0.3447578 – 0.5568611 x 0.3166260

0.8306056 x 0.9485504

CosA = 0.16844110 / 0.78787127= 0.213808 = 77.654deg = 077deg

39.26’

180-077deg39.26’ = 102deg20.74’ Initial course

Final course
CosB = Cosb - CosaCosp

SinaSinp

CosB = Cos56deg 10’ - Cos 69deg 50’ Cos071.541deg

Sin69deg 50’ Sin 071.541deg

CosB = 0.5568611 - 0.3447578 x 0.3166260

0.9386917 x 0.9485504

CosB = 0.4477018 / 0.8903964 = 0.50281178 = 59.814deg = 59deg48.83’

Therefore,

Initial course : S 77° 39.26' E or 102° 20.7' (T)

Final course : N59 48.83' E or 059° 48.83' (T)

In traingle PAV, Using Napier's rule

A = 77°39.26', PA = 56° 10',

Latitude of V & Longitude of V =?

Sin (PV) = Cos (90 - A) x Cos (90 - PA) = cos (90- 77deg39.26’) x Cos (90-56deg10’)

Sin (PV) = cos12.35 x Cos33.833 = 0.81144 = 54.2368deg

Lat V = 90- PV = 90 - 54.2368deg = 35.76deg = 35deg 46’ South

Sin (90-PA) = tan(90-P) X tan(90-A)

Sin (90-56.167) = Tan (90- P) X tan (90-77.66)

Sin33.833deg / tan 12.34deg = tan (90-P) deg

0.55677/0.21895 = 2.5429 =68,532deg

90-P = 68.532deg

P= 90- 68.532 = 21.47deg = 21deg 27.6

P = 21° 27.6deg D'long from A to V 021° 27.6' E

Long. A 023°12.00' E

Long. V 044° 39.6 E

Position of V: 35° 46 S' 044° 39.6’E

Q. Find the great circle distance, initial and final courses, from 10° 25' S, 90° 12' E to 39° 27' N
55° 10' E. find also the position of the vertex.

Solution:-
A 10° 25' S090° 12' E
B 39° 27' N055° 10' E

D’lat 49deg 52’N D'long 035° 02' W

P = 35.03°, b= 100.42°, a= 50.55°

Cosp = CosaCosb + Sina x Sinb x CosP

Cosp = Cos50.55° Cos100.42° + Sin50.55° x Sin100.42° x Cos35.03°

Cosp = 0.635405 x -0.1808625+ 0.772179 x 0.9835084 x 0.81882155

Cosp = -0.1149209 +0.62184955 = 0.50692895 = 59.54° = 3572.4 NM

Initial course

Cosa = CosbCosp + Sinb x Sinp x CosA

Cos50.55° - Cos100.42° Cos59.54° = CosA

Sin100.42° x Sin59.54°

0.635405 – ( -0.1808625 x 0.506937)

0.9835084 x 0.8619833

CosA = 0.7270909 / 0.8477678 = 0.8576533 = 30.946° = 30° 56.76’ =A

Initial course = 329° 03.24' (T) or N 30° 56.76' W

Final course

Cosb = CosaCosp + Sina x Sinp x CosB

Cos100.42° = Cos50.55° Cos59.54° + Sin50.55° x Sin59.54° x CosB

-0.1808625 = 0.635405 x 0.506937 + 0.772179 x 0.8619833 x CosB

-0.1808625 – (0.635405 x 0.506937) = CosB = -0.502973 / 0.6656063 = - 0.75566 = 139.083°

0.772179 x 0.8619833

Final course 139° 4.98' + 180 = 319°05’ (T)

Vertex :

Initial course = 329° 03.24'(T) & Final course = 319°05’ (T)

At Vertex course is 090 0r 270deg. Here 270 will be near to initial & final course. 270 is out side
Initial course & towards final course hence vertex is out side the PAB triangle & towards final
course & in northern latitude.

SinPV = Cos49.08° X Cos 39.45° = 0.6550046 X 0.772179 = 0.5057808 = 30.38° = 30°23’

Lat of V = 90° - 30°23’ = 59°37’ N

Sin 39.45° = tan49.08° X tan 90°-P

0.6354046 = 1.153618 X tan 90°-P

0.6354046 / 1.153618 = 0.550793= tan 90°-P

90°-P = 28.85°

P= 90- 28.85° = 61.15° W (D’Long)

Long of posn B = 55.167° E

Long of V = 61.15° W - 55.167° E = 5.983° W = 005° 59’ W

Position of V: 59° 37' NO05° 59' W

Find the inial & final course and the distance by Great circle track from A: 06degree00’N
079degree 00’W to B: 38degree00’S 179degree00’E.

Solution:-

From A 06deg 00’N 079deg 00’W

TO B 38deg 00S 179deg 00’E

Difference 44deg00’S 102deg 00’W

dlat dlong

co-lat (a) = 52deg, Co-lat (b) =96deg, d long(P) =102deg

Havp = Hav (a diff b) + sina x sinb x HavP

Havp = Hav (52deg diff 96deg) + sin52deg x sin96 x HavP

Havp = Hav (44deg) + sin52deg x sin96 x HavP

Havp = (1-cos44deg)/2 +sin52deg x sin96 x (1-cos102deg)/2

Havp = 0.140330099 + (0.994522 x 0.788010 x 0.603956)

(1- Cosp)/2 = 0.140330099 + 0.4733165 = 0.6136466

Cosp = 1- (0.6136466 x 2) = 1- 1.2227293 = - 0.2272293

P =103.134 deg = 6188 nautical miles (great Circle Distance)

Initial Course :-

Hav a = Hav ( 103.134 – 96) + Sin 103.134 X Sin 96 x hav A

Hav 52deg = Hav ( 7.134 ) + Sin 103.134 X Sin 96 x hav A

0.1921693 = 0.00386646 + (0.9738572 x 0.9945219) x (1-cosA) / 2

(0.1921693 - 0.00386646) / 0.96852231 = (1-cosA) / 2

0.18830284 / 0.96852231 =0.1944228 = (1-cosA) / 2

0.1944228 x 2 =1-cosA

cosA = 1- 0.3888456 = 0.61115436

A = S52.32W = 232.32 DEG(T) =232DEG 19.2’ (T) INITIAL COURSE

FINAL COURSE:

Hav 96 = Hav (103.134 – 52) + Sin 103.134 X Sin 52 x hav B

0.55226423= 0.18624943 + 0.9738413 x 0.788011 x (1-cosB)/2

0.3660148 / 0.7673974 = (1-cosB)/2

0.476956 x 2 = 1-cosB = 0.95391201

1 - 0.95391201 = 0.04608798 = CosB

B= N87.35W = 272DEG38.7’ (T) FINAL COURSE

Find the inial & final course and the distance by Great circle track from A: 24degree00’N
074degree 15’W to B: 46degree00’N 053degree45’W.

Solution:-

From A 24deg 00’N 074deg 15’W

TO B 46deg 00N 053deg 45’W

Difference 22deg00’N 020deg 30’E

 dlat dlong

Co-Lat AP(b) = 66deg, Co-Lat BP (a) = 44deg, Angle P = 20.5 deg(dlong)

Two sides & included angle is given (Angle P, Side PA & PB)

Havp = Hav (a diff b) + sina x Sinb x HavP

Havp = Hav ( 66-44) + Sin66deg x Sin44deg x Hav20.5 degree

(1- cosp)/ 2 = (1-cos22deg)/ 2 + Sin66deg Sin44deg x (1-cos20.5deg) / 2

(1- cosp)/ 2 = 0.03640807 + 0.91354546 x 0.69465837 x 0 .031663905

(1- cosp)/ 2 = 0.03640807 + 0.02009398 = 0.056502047

1- 0.113004094 = Cosp = 0.8869959

P= 27.501 deg =27 deg 30.1’ = 1650.11 nautical miles ( Great Circle Distance)

Hav a = Hav(b diff p) + Sinb x Sin p x Hav A

Hav44deg= Hav (66 diff 27.5) + Sin 66deg X sin 27.5deg x HavA

HAV A = (Hav44deg – Hav 38.5deg) / Sin 66deg X sin 27.5deg

HAV A = ( (1-cos44deg) /2 - (1-cos38.5deg) /2 )) / Sin 66deg X sin 27.5deg

HAV A = ( 0.140330099 - 0.1086959216) / 0.42182834 = 0.031634178 / 0.42182834

(1- CosA)/2 = 0.0749930116,

CosA = 1- 0.1499860 = 0.850013977

Angle A=N31.787E = 031deg47’ (T) Initial course

FINAL COURSE : angle B

Hav b = Hav(a diff p) + Sina x Sin p x Hav B

Hav 66deg = Hav(44 diff 27.5) + Sin44 x Sin 27.5deg x Hav B

(1- Cos66deg)/ 2 = (1-Cos16.5deg)/ 2 + Sin44deg x Sin27.5deg x (1-cosB deg) / 2

0.296632 = 0.020590 + (0.320757 x (1-cosB deg) / 2)

(0.296632 - 0.020590) / 0.320757) x 2 = (1- cosB deg)

1.7211901 = 1- cosB

CosB = 1- 1.7211901 = - .7211901

B = 136.15deg= 136deg 09’. Final course = 180- 136.15 deg =43deg51’ (T)
The diagram shows the spherical triangle with vertices A, B, and C. The angles at each vertex are denoted with Greek
letters α, β, and γ. The arcs forming the sides of the triangle are labeled by the lower-case form of the letter labeling the
opposite vertex.
Law of sines
sin α / sin a = sin β / sin b = sin γ / sin c
Law of cosines
cos a = cos b cos c + sin b sin c cos α
cos α = -cos β cos γ + sin β sin γ cos a

"Haversine" stands for "half versed sine" where

haversin(θ) = versin(θ)/2.
Then Napier has two rules:

1. The sine of a part is equal to the product of the tangents of the two
adjacent parts.
2. The sine of a part is equal to the product of the cosines of the two
opposite parts.
VERTEX