Help with distance between cities?

  • Thread starter Thread starter theintarnets
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
To find the distance between Panama City and Pittsburgh, the cities' latitudes of 9° N and 40° N are used, assuming they lie on the same north-south line. The formula θ = S/r is relevant, where S is the arc length and r is the radius of the Earth, approximately 6400 km. The latitudes are converted to radians to calculate the arc distance. The distance is determined by solving for S using the difference in latitudes. The discussion concludes with the realization that the calculations can be completed with the provided information.
theintarnets
Messages
64
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Find the distance in kilometers between each pair of cities assuming they lie on the same north-south line:
Panama City, Panama, 9° N and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 40° N

Homework Equations


All we talked about in class is that θ = S/r

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm really not sure what to do... I assume I'm supposed to be solving for s or r, given that θ1 is 9 and θ2 is 40 but...I'm still not sure what to do.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
theintarnets said:

Homework Statement


Find the distance in kilometers between each pair of cities assuming they lie on the same north-south line:
Panama City, Panama, 9° N and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 40° N


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I'm really not sure what to do...

The distance between them is along an arc - if you assume the Earth is a perfect sphere - we commonly do.
 
So what am I supposed to do? All I'm given is 9 and 40. I know I need S or R, but I don't know how to get them.
 
Nevermind, I think I've got it. Apparently the radius of Earth is 6400 km. So I converted the given θ's to radians and then solved for S for the both of them, then subtracted to get the distance between the two :D Thanks for the hint, PeterO
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Rethinking infrastructure in flood prone areas
2
Replies
56
Views
5K
Calculating Tidal Range (Gravitation)
Replies
12
Views
2K
Find the distance between Helsinki and Seattle......
Replies
8
Views
2K
Calculating Distance Between Copenhagen and Rome on Same Longitude
Replies
1
Views
2K
Vector airplane distance problem
Replies
6
Views
4K
How Does Relativity Affect the Measured Distance Between Cities at High Speeds?
Replies
17
Views
2K
Electric Potential Energy-minimum distance between two pucks
Replies
8
Views
2K
B Graphing trip efficiency - distance over time
Replies
14
Views
2K
"Distance" between events in uniformly moving and accelerating frames
Replies
6
Views
2K
Calculating straight-line distance between cities
Replies
6
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top