Distance Calculator

Calculate Distance Between Two Locations

Distance Calculation:

\[ Distance = \sqrt{(lat_2 - lat_1)^2 + (lon_2 - lon_1)^2} \times R \]

Location 1 Latitude:

Location 1 Longitude:

Location 2 Latitude:

Location 2 Longitude:

Unit:

Distance:

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From:	To:

1. What is Distance Calculation?

The distance calculator computes the great-circle distance between two points on the Earth's surface using their latitude and longitude coordinates. This is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ a = \sin^2(\Delta\phi/2) + \cos\phi_1 \cdot \cos\phi_2 \cdot \sin^2(\Delta\lambda/2) \] \[ c = 2 \cdot \text{atan2}(\sqrt{a}, \sqrt{1-a}) \] \[ d = R \cdot c \]

Where:

\( \phi \) — Latitude in radians
\( \lambda \) — Longitude in radians
\( R \) — Earth's radius (6371 km or 3959 miles)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the curvature of the Earth to provide accurate distance measurements between any two points on the globe.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance measurement is crucial for navigation, logistics, travel planning, and geographic analysis. It helps determine the most efficient routes between locations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude (-90 to 90) and longitude (-180 to 180) in decimal degrees for both locations. Select your preferred unit (miles or kilometers).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculator?
A: The Haversine formula provides very accurate results for most practical purposes, typically within 0.5% of the actual distance.

Q2: What's the difference between great-circle and rhumb line distance?
A: Great-circle is the shortest path on a sphere (what this calculator provides), while rhumb line maintains a constant bearing (longer but easier to navigate).

Q3: Can I use this for driving distance?
A: This calculates straight-line distance. Driving distance may be longer due to roads, terrain, and obstacles.

Q4: What's the maximum distance this can calculate?
A: The formula works for any distance on Earth, including antipodal points (exactly opposite sides of the globe).

Q5: Why does the Earth's radius matter?
A: The Earth isn't a perfect sphere - it's slightly flattened at the poles. We use the mean radius (6371 km) for general calculations.