Homework Help: physics

Posted by rachel on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 9:31pm.

Assume that the Earth is spherical and recall that latitudes range from 0° at the Equator to 90° N at the North Pole. Consider Dubuque, Iowa (42.50° N latitude), and Guatemala City (14.62° N latitude). The two cities lie on approximately the same longitude. Do not neglect the curvature of the Earth in determining the following.

If one could burrow through the Earth and dig a straight-line tunnel from Dubuque to Guatemala City, how long would the tunnel be?

physics - drwls, Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 9:39pm
The subtended angle between the two cities, measured from the Earth's center, is 42.50-14.62 = 27.88 degrees
(You can take the difference of the two latitudes since the longitudes are the same.)

The distance you want is the base of an isosceles triangle with two equal sides R (the earth radius) and apex angle A = 27.88 degrees.

R = 6370 km

Tunnel Length = 2*R*sin(A/2)= 3069 km
physics - rachel, Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 10:19pm
thanks

Answer this Question

Related Questions

Math - Assume that the Earth is spherical and recall that latitudes range from 0...
Physics - Assuming that the Earth is spherical and recalling that latitudes ...
physics - Assume that the Earth is spherical and recall that latitudes range ...
Physics - Assuming that the Earth is spherical and recalling that latitudes ...
physics - Assume that the Earth is spherical and recall that latitudes range ...
physics - An early major objection to the idea that Earth is spinning on its ...
physics - The earth has a radius of 6380 km and turns around once on its axis in...
physics - The earth rotates once per day about an axis passing through the north...
physics?? - The earth rotates once per day about an axis passing through the ...
Physics circular motion - The earth rotates once per day about an axis passing ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: