Coordinate Systems, Essay Example

Part 1

1. The longitude would be 117 degrees West.
2. The longitude would be 107 degrees West.
3. The longitude would be 106 degrees, 45 minutes West.
4. 106 degrees, 45 minutes west
5. 106.75

Part 2

30/360 = 1/12  Diameter = 11.45915 Circumference = 36

Part 3

Locations that are south of the equator have a negative latitude.

Locations that are east of the prime meridian have a positive longitude.

• Map length diameter is 7,926 miles. Radius is 3963.  Circumference is 24,470.30.

Based on the findings in part 2 this is accurate.

• For calculating the circumference by using Google Maps you would start with clicking on the ruler icon. This can be accessed in the toolbar under tools, then ruler. Check to verify the mouse navigation box if it’s not already checked. Then click the 3D viewer in order to measure. There are different tabs that can be used for measuring the shape such as polygon, path, and circle that you are measuring with. The results will show up in the dialog box after you pin point the location. Click and save your measurements as a KML file.

• A oblate spheroid is classified as rotationally symmetric ellipsoid that has a polar axis which is shorter than the diameter of the equatorial circle of which the plane bisects it. The difference is if the ellipse is rotated about the major axis, the outcome is a prolate or elongated spheroid. This is similar to a rugby or football.  On the other hand if the ellipse is rotated around the minor axis, the results will be an oblate or flattened spheroid. This is like a lentil.  If the general ellipse is a circle than its results in a sphere.
• The measurements in Google maps use a sphere. The shortest distance between points in a sphere is not a straight line, but a circle.  It is obviously a sphere because of the means used to calculate such constructs as distance, heading, and area.
• The distance between the shortest and longest point in meters is shortest point 294,991 – longest part 458,157 = 163,166. I am confident that question 4 is correct.
• I think there is room for inconsistencies based on human error. If you mark the location incorrectly my just a hair it changes the entire value.  Therefore, multiple attempts could alter the outcome.