Assuming Earth to be a sphere of radius 4000 miles, how many miles north of the Equator is City A if it is 39° north of the Equator?

Answer :

Final answer:

City A, which is at 39° north of the Equator, is approximately 2722 miles north of the Equator.

Explanation:

To calculate the distance north of the Equator for City A, we can use the concept of a great circle on a sphere, such as Earth. A great circle is the largest possible circle that can be drawn on a sphere, dividing it into two equal halves. The Equator is one example of a great circle. Any other great circle can be considered as a meridian of longitude that extends from the North Pole to the South Pole.

To find the distance from the Equator to City A, which is at 39° north latitude, we need to apply the following formula based on the proportion of the circle:

  • Distance = (Circumference of Earth) × (Degree of latitude / 360)

Assuming the Earth is a sphere with a radius of 4000 miles, the circumference (C) is given by the formula:

C = 2πr

Plugging in values, we get:

  • C = 2 × π × 4000 miles
  • C ≈ 2 × 3.14159 × 4000 miles
  • C ≈ 25132.74 miles

Now, we calculate the northward distance using the latitude degree:

  • Distance = 25132.74 miles × (39 / 360)
  • Distance ≈ 25132.74 miles × 0.108333
  • Distance ≈ 2721.73 miles

Therefore, City A is approximately 2722 miles north of the Equator.