Distances: How to calculate distances between places around the world

Calculate distances between places on earth worldwide

This is how you can calculate the distances yourself:

• As I am sure you know, the earth will worldwide divided into degrees of longitude. The distance between these lines is greatest at the equator and smallest at the pole. It depends on how far a place is from the equator.
• In addition, the earth is divided into degrees of latitude. You can clearly see the connection in the drawing. If the angle phi 0⁰the place is on the equator when it is 90⁰ is, at the pole.
• The length of the adjacent side of the triangle is exactly the length of the radius on the circle of latitude that belongs to the angle phi. This means that the distance between the degrees of longitude (2 pi r cos phi) / 360⁰ is. Where r is the radius of the earth.
• If you now know 2 places on earth for which you know the coordinates, you know the respective angle phi, it is the latitude and the lambda, it is the angle between the prime meridian and the longitude is. Please note that this can be west or east of the prime meridian.
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Graticule - this is how you calculate distances

The position of a point or place on the earth's surface is indicated in the graticule by its ...

• Keep in mind that the earth is a sphere with a radius of approx. 6,370 km and a circumference of approx. 40,000 km. If you go from place A to the center of the earth, and from there to place B, you get an angle called the central angle. If you know this angle, you can easily work out the associated arc. This is the central angle through 360⁰ multiplied by 40,000 km.
• You can determine the central angle using the formula cos central angle = sin (latitude place 1) * sin (latitude place 2) + cos (latitude place 1) * cos (latitude place 2) * cos (longitude place 2- longitude place 1).

Determine distances over the Internet

• Also work according to the method mentioned Computer, that you can find on the net. Select two locations from the drop-down menu between which you would like to calculate the distance. You get the coordinates and the distance between the places. Use the calculator to check the above invoice.

• If you are not interested in global distances, you can also use a calculator where you can use the Postcodes input. Since you are not given any coordinates here, you cannot use the calculator to check your invoices.