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Right angles with regard to the latitude-longitude coordinate system, but not with regard to the surface of the earth. Recall that all meridians intersect at th
by doersino 6y ago
Right angles with regard to the latitude-longitude coordinate system, but not with regard to the surface of the earth. Recall that all meridians intersect at the poles.
- colanderman 6y ago@tantalor is technically correct; meridians and parallels intersect at right angles, even with respect to the (idealized) surface of the earth. Proof sketch: if the angles involved in a crossing were not all 90°, then either the crossing would not be symmetric about the meridian (it is), or one or both lines must have a sharp "kink" (i.e., have a non-smooth first derivative) at the intersection (neither does). However, parallels, while smooth, are not straight, they "curl" toward the nearest pole (i.e., non-zero second derivative, relative to the earth's surface). This accounts for the non-"rectangular" shape of quadrangles and can be replicated on a 2D plane.
- tantalor 6y agoYes with regard to the surface of the earth. Take the lines tangent to the meridian & parallel at the point of intersection. Observe these lines are perpendicular. Hence the meridian & parallel meet at a right angle.
- kgwgk 6y ago> Recall that all meridians intersect at the poles. How is that relevant regarding “Parallels and meridians always meet at 90 degrees“?