imagine that it is possible for a pair of railroad tracks to extend all the way around the earth. can they be parallel?
2007-11-06 09:11:25 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
its spherical geometry, for homework.
2007-11-06 09:20:12 · update #1
Theoretically, the only way it is possible to have railroad tracks be parallel is to follow the equator or a line of latitude. In any other situation the tracks will follow slightly different paths due to the curvature of the earth.
2007-11-06 09:51:06 · answer #1 · answered by Mark C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, By definition they can not be both parallel and straight.
2007-11-06 18:10:38 · answer #2 · answered by Johneye 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they might wind up of different lengths though.
2007-11-06 22:53:26 · answer #3 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-11-06 17:14:11 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, of course? What's the point here?
2007-11-06 17:19:17 · answer #5 · answered by prp2009 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋