- #1
otomanb
- 59
- 0
the distance from Islamabad to my hometown "sialkot" is 300km.
if i use helicopter what would be the displacement ?
Thank you!
How to calculate displacement from distance?
- Context: High School
- Thread starter otomanb
- Start date
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- Tags
- Displacement
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around calculating displacement from distance, specifically in the context of traveling from Islamabad to Sialkot, with a focus on mathematical approaches rather than using mapping tools. Participants explore the concepts of distance and displacement, particularly in relation to spherical geometry.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant states the distance from Islamabad to Sialkot is 300 km and inquires about the displacement when using a helicopter.
- Another participant suggests using a map or breaking the journey into segments to estimate displacement.
- A different participant mentions that Google Maps indicates the displacement between the two locations is approximately 30 km.
- One participant expresses a desire to find a mathematical formula for calculating displacement from distance, specifically for helicopter travel.
- Another participant provides a definition of distance on the surface of a sphere and references the great-circle distance as the shortest path between two points on a sphere.
- It is proposed that there is a method to calculate displacement from distance, noting that the two terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation.
- A participant questions whether "distance" refers to chord length, which is the straight line between two points through a sphere, and mentions that the linked article includes relevant formulas.
- One participant asserts that without additional information, such as the bearing followed along the path, it is impossible to calculate the shortest distance between two points based solely on the distance of the path.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on how to calculate displacement from distance, with some suggesting mathematical approaches and others emphasizing the need for additional information. No consensus is reached on a definitive method for calculating displacement.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the potential ambiguity in terminology regarding distance and displacement, as well as the need for specific coordinates or additional data to accurately calculate displacement.
the distance from Islamabad to my hometown "sialkot" is 300km.
if i use helicopter what would be the displacement ?
Thank you!
- #2
grzz
- 1,032
- 26
A map?
Or breaking it up into segments and estimating the displacement?
Or breaking it up into segments and estimating the displacement?
- #3
JHamm
- 391
- 1
Checking google maps the displacement between the two is approximately 30km
- #4
otomanb
- 59
- 0
i want to do it mathematically not using google earth.
is there any formula to find displacement from distance? suppose if i use helicopter how would i have to cover from islamabad to Sialkot?
is there any formula to find displacement from distance? suppose if i use helicopter how would i have to cover from islamabad to Sialkot?
- #5
otomanb
- 59
- 0
- #6
Naty1
- 5,605
- 40
I'm not sure what your terminology means...but a correct explanation for distance on the surface of a sphere is given here:
" The great-circle distance ...distance is the shortest distance between any two points on the surface of a sphere measured along a path on the surface of the sphere (as opposed to going through the sphere's interior). ..."
formulas are given in this text:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great-circle_distance
" The great-circle distance ...distance is the shortest distance between any two points on the surface of a sphere measured along a path on the surface of the sphere (as opposed to going through the sphere's interior). ..."
formulas are given in this text:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great-circle_distance
- #7
JHamm
- 391
- 1
There is a way to calculate displacement from the distance between two points because in normal usage the two are the same, the distance of your path isn't what most people would term the distance between the two points. And aside from measuring the two lines in your image and comparing them you aren't going to have much luck converting from one to the other.
- #8
rcgldr
Homework Helper
- 8,946
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By distance do you mean chord length (a straight line between two points that goes through the sphere rather than along it's surface)? The wiki article linked to above includes the chord length formulas.
- #9
NascentOxygen
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
- 9,253
- 1,080
That looks like the best answer. Provided OP knows the co-ordinates of the two towns, just plug them into the round-earth formula, and he'll have their distance apart.Naty1 said:
- #10
mikeph
- 1,229
- 18
You can't calculate the shortest distance between two points if the only information you are given is the distance of a path between them. There is simply not enough information.
The least information you'd need is the bearing followed at every point on the path.
The least information you'd need is the bearing followed at every point on the path.
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