The latitude and longitude of a point P on the surface of the earth are 50 degree N , 30 degree W and another point Q are 50 degree N ,48 degree E . Taking the earth as a sphere of radius 6400 km and pie as 3.142 , calculate , to the nearest 100 km the following : (a) The radius of the circle of latitude through P and Q.

Question

The latitude and longitude of a point P on the surface of the earth are 50 degree N , 30 degree W and another point Q are 50 degree N ,48 degree E . Taking the earth as a sphere of radius 6400 km and pie as 3.142 , calculate , to the nearest 100 km the following : (a) The radius of the circle of latitude through P and Q.

(b) The distance PQ along the parallel of latitude .
(c) The speed due to the rotation of the earth in km/h of the point P , assuming that the earth makes a complete rotation in 24 hours .

Answer 1

(a) at latitude 50, the radius of the circle of latitude is 6400 cos50° = 4114 km

(b) s = rθ = 4114 * (78/360)*2π = 5601 km
(c) 2π*4114 km / 24 hr = 1077 km/hr