2022 · Q12
Which one of the following statements about ‘great circle’ is not correct?
indian-world-geographymap-work
- AEvery great circle divides the Earth into equal halves.
- BEvery great circle is the circumference of the Earth.
- CGreat circles mark the longest travel routes between locations on the Earth’s surface.
- DGreat circle is the largest circle that can be drawn around the Earth through two particular points.
Explanation
The incorrect statement is C: great circles mark the SHORTEST, not the longest, travel routes between two locations on the Earth's surface — transatlantic air routes follow great-circle arcs for this reason. Statement A is true: every great circle passes through the Earth's centre and divides it into two equal halves (hemispheres). Statement B is true: a great circle's circumference equals the Earth's circumference through those points. Statement D is true: the great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn around the Earth through two particular points. Hence option C.