Question

The distance along the Earth's surface from Los Angeles to New York City is about 3000 miles. If you tunneled straight to New York from LA, how far below the Earth's surface would you be at the midpoint of these two cities? What would the direct distance be? Round your final answers to the nearest mile. Use 25000 miles for the circumference of the Earth.

Answer 1

Hello,

1) angle in the center: α=360*3000/25000=43.2°

2) half chord/R=sin(43.2/2) and R=3963.1676 miles
==>L/2=sin(21.6°)*3963.1676
==>L=2917.8785999 ≈2918 miles