Calculating distances using small circles | Unit 3 and 4 VCE Further Maths
This video is aimed at students studying Unit 3 and 4 of VCE Further Mathematics. This video is part of a series of videos covering the Geometry and Measurement module.
In this video, we begin to look at how we can use our understanding of latitude and longitude to calculate distances between points on the Earth’s surface. Here we focus on distances along small circles, which are circles with radius less than that of the Earth, for example, looking at distances along a parallel of latitude. We also consider the fact that distances along small circles are not shortest distances, and so we look at how to calculate the shortest distance between two points.
My class uses the Cambridge Senior Mathematics textbook for Units 3 and 4 Further Mathematics for the Australian Curriculum / VCE. The content in this video is covered in Chapter 19 of this textbook.
Throughout the video I make use of the TI Nspire CAS CX II handheld.