23rd January 2008, 12:47 PM
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Super Roving English Ninja
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Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Western Sydney
Posts: 19,027
Thanks: 1,327
Thanked 2,462 Times in 1,766 Posts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushie
The real problem lies with the 'imperial' system.
Mile - Nautical or Statute
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A nautical mile makes sense when you understand the reasoning behind it:
Quote:
Without regard for global position, an arc equal to one minute of difference in latitude measurement is approximately 1 nautical mile. This gives 1 nautical mile per for every minute (1') of change in latitude. This is one advantage in measuring latitude with respect to angles originating at the center of the Earth. - Conversion Notes
- 1 nautical mile = 6076 feet or 1852 meters
- compared to 1 statute (land) mile = 5280 feet or 1609 meters
- 1 nautical mile = 1.15 statute mile
- 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour
Using the mathematical technique of "units analysis", one can see the relationship between the earth's circumference and a nautical mile as the distance along one minute of arc lattitude by the following equation (1 Earth circumference)/(360 °) x (60')/1° x (1 nautical mile)/(minute ' of arc) x (1.15 statute miles)/(nautical mile) = 360 * 60 * 1.15 statute miles = 24680 miles around the earth traveling through the poles
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__________________
Ron B.
1995 P38A Range Rover HSE 4.6 V8 Auto; 1968 LR Series IIA trayback (Holden 202); Yamaha XJR1300, Suzuki DL650 V-Strom
RIP Bucko - Riding on Forever
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