Driving Distance Calculator

Great Circle Distance Formula:

\[ d = 2 \times R \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta lat}{2}\right) + \cos(lat1) \times \cos(lat2) \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta lon}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Latitude 1:

degrees

Longitude 1:

degrees

Latitude 2:

degrees

Longitude 2:

degrees

Distance Unit:

Distance:

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1. What is the Great Circle Distance?

The Great Circle Distance, also known as "as the crow flies" distance, is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. For Earth, this represents the shortest path between two locations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ d = 2 \times R \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta lat}{2}\right) + \cos(lat1) \times \cos(lat2) \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta lon}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Where:

\( R \) — Earth's radius (6371 km)
\( lat1, lat2 \) — Latitude coordinates in radians
\( lon1, lon2 \) — Longitude coordinates in radians
\( \Delta lat \) — Difference in latitude
\( \Delta lon \) — Difference in longitude

Explanation: The formula calculates the central angle between two points and multiplies by Earth's radius to get the distance.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Great circle distance is essential for navigation, flight planning, telecommunications, and geographical analysis. It provides the most efficient route between two points on Earth's surface.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude and longitude coordinates in decimal degrees format. Positive values for north/east, negative for south/west. Select your preferred distance unit (km or miles).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is this the same as driving distance?
A: No, this calculates straight-line distance. Driving distance is typically longer due to roads, terrain, and obstacles.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: Very accurate for spherical Earth model. Actual Earth is slightly ellipsoidal, but the difference is minimal for most applications.

Q3: What coordinate format should I use?
A: Use decimal degrees format (e.g., 40.7128° instead of 40°42'46"N).

Q4: Can I use this for long distances?
A: Yes, the Haversine formula works accurately for any distance on Earth's surface.

Q5: Why use radians instead of degrees?
A: Trigonometric functions in programming languages typically use radians, so conversion is necessary for accurate calculations.