Question 1890Navigation General
70% to passWhat defines a great circle?
A
The intersection of a plane passing through the center of a sphere.
B
A curved line drawn on a Mercator Chart
C
A course line that inscribes a loxodromic curve
D
The smallest circle that can be drawn on the face of a sphere
AI Explanation
The correct answer is A) The intersection of a plane passing through the center of a sphere. A great circle is defined as the intersection of a plane passing through the center of a sphere. This is the largest possible circle that can be drawn on the surface of a sphere. Great circles represent the shortest distance between any two points on the sphere, making them important for navigation. The other options are incorrect because: B) is describing a rhumb line or loxodromic curve, C) is not the definition of a great circle, and D) is describing the smallest possible circle on a sphere, which is not the definition of a great circle.
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