Shortest distance between points on earth's surface which crosses successive meridians

Shortest distance between points on earth's surface which crosses successive meridians

• A. Loxodrome
• B. Bathymetry
• C. Orthodrome
• D. Rhumb line

Answer: (C)

The shortest path along the Earth’s surface between two points is a great-circle route. This is the orthodrome—the intersection of the Earth with a plane that goes through the planet’s center. Along this path, you’re effectively following a geodesic, so the distance traveled is the minimum possible on the spherical surface. A path that crosses meridians at a constant angle is a rhumb line (loxodrome). While it does cross successive meridians, it does not take the shortest route between two points—its bearing remains fixed, and it tends to spiral toward the poles on most map projections, making it longer than the great-circle path. Bathymetry is unrelated here, as it concerns ocean depths rather than routes.

The shortest path along the Earth’s surface between two points is a great-circle route. This is the orthodrome—the intersection of the Earth with a plane that goes through the planet’s center. Along this path, you’re effectively following a geodesic, so the distance traveled is the minimum possible on the spherical surface.

A path that crosses meridians at a constant angle is a rhumb line (loxodrome). While it does cross successive meridians, it does not take the shortest route between two points—its bearing remains fixed, and it tends to spiral toward the poles on most map projections, making it longer than the great-circle path.

Bathymetry is unrelated here, as it concerns ocean depths rather than routes.