College of Engineering
Sperical
Trigonometry
In partial fulfilment of the requirements
in Math 402E: Plane and Spherical Trigonometry
SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY
- the study of the relations connecting the sides and angles of a spherical triangle
- is a branch of trigonometry that concerns with triangles extracted from the surface of
the sphere
- basic in astronomy, surveying and navigation
- time of day, directions of sailing and flying, positions of ships, airplanes and reference
points
Great circle a circle cut from a sphere by a plane through the center of the sphere. It divides
the sphere into two equal parts.
Ex: circles NWS and PBAP
Arc length angle subtended by the arc at the center of the sphere
Ex: arc AB has arc length of
Quarter of a great circle has an arc length of 90
An arc of 1 on a sphere equal to the earth in volume is a nautical mile and has 6080.3 ft.
Thus 90 has 5400 nautical miles.
Poles of the circle a line through the center O of a sphere perpendicular to the plane of a circle
on the sphere cuts the sphere in two points
Ex: P and P
Polar distance of a circle least distance on a sphere from a point on the circle to its pole
Ex: Polar distance of great circle is 90.
Polar distance of TQR is arc PR.
Theorem: If the planes of two great circles are perpendicular, then their great circle passes
through the poles of the other and conversely.
Lune one of the parts in which a sphere is divided by two diametral planes
Ex: PABPSR
Earth ellipsoidal in shape about 7918 statute miles in diameter
Axis line through the center where the earth revolves
Poles points in which its axis cuts the surface; north and south poles
Equator is a great circle cut from the earth by a plane perpendicular to the axis of the earth
through the center
Parallel of latitude (parallel) is a small circle cut from the earth by a plane parallel to the
equatorial plane
Meridian is half of a great circle on the earth terminated by the north pole and the south pole
Latitude angular distance from the equator along a meridian through the place
- measured north or south of the equator from 0-90
Longitude angle at either pole between the meridian passing through the point and some fixed
meridian known as the prime meridian
- measured east or west of the PM from 0-180
SPHERICAL TRIANGLE
- consists of three arcs of great circles that form the boundaries of a portion of a spherical
surface
- the vertices will be denoted by A, B and C, and the sides opposite by a, b and c
co-A = complement of A = 90 - A
co-B = complement of B = 90 - B
co-c = complement
a, b, co-c, co-A and co-B are called the circular parts
If a is the middle part, b and co-B are adjacent to a and co-c and co-A are opposite to a.
Recall: (same with co-B and co-c)
sin A = cos co-A = cos (90 - A)
cos A = sin co-A = sin (90 - A)
tan A = cot co-A = cot (90 - A)
cot A = tan co-A = tan (90 - A)
sec A = csc co-A = csc (90 - A)
csc A = sec co-A = sec (90 - A)
Napiers Rule:
I. The sine of any middle part is equal to the product of the cosines of the opposite parts.
II. The sine of any middle part is equal to the product of the tangents of the adjacent parts.
sin middle = cos opposite = tan adjacent
LQ1: In a right spherical triangle an oblique angle and the side opposite are of the same
quadrant.
LQ2: When the hypotenuse of a right spherical triangle is
(a) less than 90, the two legs are of the same quadrant and conversely.
(b) greater than 90, one leg is of the first quadrant, the other of the second, and
conversely.
Quadrantal Triangles
- a spherical triangle having a side equal to 90
CLASSICAL METHODS OF SOLVING SPHERICAL TRIANGLES
Case 1: Two sides and included angle are given.
Case 2: Two angles and the included side.
Case 3: Two sides and an angle opposite one of them.
Case 4: Two angles and a side opposite one of them.
Case 5: Three sides are given.
Case 6: Three angles are given.
NAPIERS ANALOGIES:
1
A B tan 1 a b
2
2
1.
1
1
sin A B
tan c
2
2
1
1
sin a b tan A B
2
2
3.
1
1
sin a b
cot C
2
2
sin
TERRESTRIAL SPHERE:
1
A B tan 1 a b
2
2
2.
1
1
cos A B
tan c
2
2
1
1
cos a b tan A B
2
2
4.
1
1
cos a b
cot C
2
2
cos
Area of sphere
where:
r2E
180
Problems:
1. Two places A and B on the earth have the follow latitudes and
longitudes:A(40N, 18E) and B (0N, 58E). Find the angle of departure from
A to B of the great circle route.
Given:
Required:
NAB
Solution:
ANB = 58
2.
Solution:
3.
Solution:
Solution:
Cos(a) = [Cos(b) . Cos(c)] +[Sin(b) . Sin(c) .Cos(A)]
a = 5.73m.
5.
Solution: