2006-10-12 13:27:55 · 4 answers · asked by soccerdude 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
A great circle is one whose center is also at the center of the sphere on whose surface the circle is inscribed.
The other parallels of latitude have their center either directly north or directly south of the center of the earth.
2006-10-12 13:35:09 · answer #1 · answered by Glenn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to be a great circle the plane formed going through the circle must also go through the center of the sphere. All lines of longitude do this, the equator is the only line of latitude that does this.
2006-10-13 10:37:27 · answer #2 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The definition of the great circle is that its center is the center of the sphere. Only the latitude that is the equator satisfies that requrement.
2006-10-12 20:35:36 · answer #3 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe because it is the longest of all the latitude circles.
2006-10-12 20:37:17 · answer #4 · answered by bigpaul 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋