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Earth Curvature Formula:
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The Earth curvature line of sight formula calculates the distance to the horizon based on the observer's height above the Earth's surface. It accounts for the Earth's curvature to determine how far an observer can see before the Earth's surface curves away.
The calculator uses the Earth curvature formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the angular distance to the horizon based on the observer's height, then converts this to a linear distance along the Earth's surface.
Details: Understanding Earth curvature is essential for navigation, telecommunications, astronomy, and determining visibility limits. It's particularly important for long-distance observations and signal transmission.
Tips: Enter Earth's radius (default is 6,371,000 meters) and observer height in meters. All values must be valid positive numbers.
Q1: Why is Earth's radius set to 6,371,000 meters by default?
A: This is the mean radius of Earth, which provides a good approximation for most calculations involving Earth's curvature.
Q2: How does observer height affect the distance to the horizon?
A: The higher the observer, the farther they can see. The relationship is not linear - doubling the height increases the distance by approximately 41%.
Q3: Does this calculation account for atmospheric refraction?
A: No, this is a geometric calculation only. Atmospheric refraction can typically extend the visible horizon by about 8-15% depending on conditions.
Q4: Can this formula be used for other planets?
A: Yes, simply replace Earth's radius with the radius of the planet you're calculating for.
Q5: What's the practical application of this calculation?
A: It's used in navigation, determining radio signal range, planning observation points, and understanding limitations of long-distance visibility.