On the surface of a sphere the shortest distance between two points is:
A)an arc on a great circle.
B)a straight line.
C)a circle.
D)a triangle.
E)a curvy line.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The shortest distance between two points on a sphere is an arc on a great circle. A great circle is a circle on the surface of a sphere with the same center as the sphere. All great circles divide the sphere into two equal halves along their diameter, and they are the largest possible circles that can be drawn on a sphere. Therefore, the shortest distance between any two points on a sphere is along the arc of a great circle that passes through both points. On the surface of a sphere, the shortest distance between two points is an arc on a great circle. A great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on the surface of the sphere and it divides the sphere into two equal parts. Any two points on a sphere lie on a unique great circle, and the shortest distance between them is the arc on that great circle.

On the Surface of a Sphere the Shortest Distance Between