The equation you provided, where “lat1” and “lat2” are the latitudes of two points in radians, is used in various calculations involving spherical coordinates, such as calculating distances between two points on the Earth’s surface. Let’s break down this equation and its significance in aircraft design:
- Distance: The calculated distance between two points on the Earth’s surface, typically measured in nautical miles.
- R: The radius of the Earth, usually in nautical miles. In this context, R represents the Earth’s mean radius.
- Δlat: The difference in latitude between the two points, measured in radians.
- lat1: The latitude of the first point, measured in radians.
- lat2: The latitude of the second point, measured in radians.
- Δlon: The difference in longitude between the two points, measured in radians