Spherical Trigonometry

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 1
 P
Great Circle
Any Plane Passing Through the Center of Sphere cuts the
Sphere in a Circle.
F R D
Small Circle
C
Any Other Plane Intersecting the Sphere, but not passing
through the Center. (i.e. cutting the Surface of the sphere) o
E B
A
If
there are any other Points on the Surface of a Sphere,
then
the Sphere can be Bisected so that all three Points lie on
the same Hemisphere.
Q
• Arc FCD at Point R is not a Great Circle

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 2
If
The Points are joined by Great Circle arcs all lying on the Hemisphere,
then
the Figure obtained is called a Spherical Triangle.

On a sphere, the corresponding sum is always greater than 180° but also
less than 540°. O
180° < α + β + γ < 540°

For Spherical Triangle ABC r

• AB, BC, CA are the Sides
• And α, β, γ are the Spherical Angles

If r is the Radius of the Sphere

the length of Spherical Arc AC is given by
AC = r . Ang(AOC)
AC = r. α (α is in Radian)

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 3
 P
Length of small Circle Arc
Consider small circle arc CD
CD = RC x angle(CRD)
Also, AD = OA x angle(AOB) F R D
C
Now, the plane(FCD) is parallel to the Plane(EAB)
Then, CRD = AOB E o
So, for RC||OB and RD||OB B
A

(OB = OC = radius)
We have, RC Ʇ OR
Q

Since, AOC is the angle subtended at center of the sphere by

the great Circle arc AC.
( PA = 90 ̊)

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 4
 Terrestrial latitude and longitude
P
Longitude are measured from 0° to 180° east of
Greenwich meridian and 0° to 180° west. Greenwich M X
G H
1. Meridian through J cuts the equator at point L and the
angle(LOJ) or great Circle arc LJ, is called the latitude of J. J
2. The angle KOL is defined to be the longitude of the
meridian PHQ.(equatorial arc KL or spherical angle KPL) N o
Y
• If J is between equator and the north pole P, K L
latitude is said to be north(N).
• If R is between equator and the South pole Q, R
latitude is said to be south(S). west
east
Let ϕ denote the latitude of J.
then LOJ or LJ = ϕ
Since OP is Ʇ to equator, POL = 90° POJ = 90° - Lat Q
Angle(POJ) or Spherical arc PJ is the colatitude of J.
colatitude = 90° - Lat

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 5
 Fundamental Formula for Spherical Trigonometry
Let AD be the tangent to the great circle AC at A and
AE be the tangent to BC at great circle BA

Now in plane OAD, OAD is 90° and

then
…(3)
O
From the plane triangle OAE, we have
…(4)
B
From the plane triangle DAE a C
c
b
A
…(5) D E
From the plane triangle DOE
(DOE = BOC = a)

…(6)

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 6
Using (5) = (6)

Now,

B
a C
c
b
A
D E
Equation (A) is known as fundamental formula of spherical
trigonometry (cosine formula) and Similarly others can be derived.

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 7
Use of fundamental formula(A)
▪ When all three Sides are given
Angle of triangle can be found by cosine-formula.

▪ For two sides and one angle

Say, b and c , and the included angle A of a spherical triangle ABC are known,
Then cosine-formula can be used to calculate the third side a to be made.

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 8
SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 9
 The sine formula

From the cosine formula (A) , we have

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 10
We have

This formula (B) is known as sine-formula

It gives the relation between any two sides of triangle and
two angles opposite these sides.

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 11
Now we have formula 7

We can write it as
sin 𝑐 sin 𝑎 cos 𝐵 = cos 𝑏 − cos 𝑐 cos 𝑎
= cos 𝑏 − cos 𝑐 cos 𝑏 cos 𝑐 + sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐴
= cos 𝑏 − cos 𝑐 cos 𝑏 cos 𝑐 − cos 𝑐 sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐴
= sin2 𝑐 cos 𝑏 − cos 𝑐 sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐴

Hence dividing by sin 𝑐

sin 𝑎 cos 𝐵 = sin 𝑐 cos 𝑏 − cos 𝑐 sin 𝑏 cos 𝐴 …(C)

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 12
 The haversine formula

Haversine is defined as

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 13
Rules & Laws
Fundamental formula of spherical 2 Law of Sines
1
trigonometry
Cosine-formula

3 4 Four parts formula

Haversine formula
cos(inner side).cos(inner angle)
= sin(inner side).cot(other side)
– sin(inner angle).cot(other angle)

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 14
Example 1
Spherical trigonometry is very applicable to our every day life. One of these applications is discovering the length
and directions needed for navigation. The formulas easily apply to the earth because the latitude and longitude
lines are actually examples of great circles.

The law of cosines can be used on the example below, in which we want to find the distance between two cities.
Given:
Earth’s radius: 6,370 km
Distance from (C)San Francisco, California to (b)Dublin, Ireland: 8850 km
Distance from (C)San Francisco, California to (a)Seattle, Washington: 1094 km
B

A a

b
C

c = 7232 km
This value is an estimation because it assumes the earth is a perfect sphere with no dips or irregularities which is
not true. This estimation is useful as it is so quick and easy to find.

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 15
Example 2
Suppose that we have three lunar rovers, say A,B, and C respectively. Now suppose we
wish to find the distance between two of these such rovers. We can use the following
given information and the Law of Sines to find the unknown distance. B
Radius of moon:1737 km
Distance between rover C and B, i.e. length a : 10 km
Angle created at rover B: 3π/4 A a=10Km
Angle created at rover A: π/6

We need to find, How far are rovers A and C that is length of b.

C
We have,

Substituting values ,

Thus, the distance between rover A and rover C is around 14 km.

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 16
 Assignment I
solve the spherical triangle problems below. All values are in degree.

1. a = 64 b = 33 c = 37 C = ?
2. a = 39 b = 48 C = 74 c = ?
3. a = 16 b = 37 C = 42 B = ?
4. a = 21 b = 43 A = 29 c = ?
5. a = 67 b = 54 A = 39 B = ?

Assignment-II

SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 17
SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 18