Questions tagged [spherical-geometry]

geometry as on the surface of a sphere, where "lines" are great circles and any pair of lines must intersect

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Proving a formula for spherical triangles

I'm trying to prove the following formula. Given a spherical triangle with side lengths $a,b,c$ and interior angles $ \alpha,\beta,\gamma $ prove the following formula $$2\sin \frac{A}{2} =\frac{\sqrt{\sin(s) \sin(s-a) \sin(s-b)…
Polymorph
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Existence of regular spherical n-gons

I'm having problems with the solution of the following exercise. Let n $ \geq 3$. a)What is the interior angle of a regular Euclidean n-gon? Given the side length, what is its area? b) Show that for any $\alpha_n$ $\lt$ $\beta$ $\lt$ $\pi$ there…
Polymorph
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A simple question about angles on spherical-geometry

In the figure's sphere does: $\widehat{AB} = \widehat{A'B'}$ or Not? I mean the angles represented by arcs. (not the lengths). In a book it said that they're not equal and they are: $\widehat{AB} = \widehat{A'B'} * \cos{\widehat{AA'}}$. Is it…
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Does the R^n analog of a sphere, have the minimum surface area for a given volume?

The property is true for $n =3$. But is it also true for $n \gt 3$? Is the object in $R^n$ with minimal surface area for a given volume, the higher dimensional analog of a sphere?
Lelouch
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The biggest square on a sphere

I wonder whether presented in wikipedia square (with angles $120^{\circ}$) is the biggest (taking into account lengths of sides) possible square on a sphere? If not what is the biggest? If so how it can be proved? One can assume here definition…
Widawensen
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Spherical trigonometry has no identified invariant

For plane trig we have Law of Sines $$ \frac{ a}{\sin A} =\frac{ b }{\sin B} =\frac{ c }{\sin C}= 2 R $$ where $2R$ is the diameter of the circum-circle.There is a clear understanding of the relationship of lengths and angles of a plane…
Narasimham
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Distance between points on a face

Given a 2D picture of a face, how is it possible to measure the distance between two different points on the surface of the face? Thanks Joel
Joel
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How can I find the center of gravity of a hollow spherical cap?

I am looking to find the center of gravity for a hollow spherical cap. Could I use that point as the point at which the entire mass of the spherical cap is for newtonian gravity problems?
Joe
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Find Double of Distance Between 2 Quaternions

I want to find the geometric equivalent of vector addition and subtraction in 3d for quaternions. In 3d difference between 2 points(a and b) gives the vector from one point to another. (b-a) gives the vector from b to a and when I add this to b I…
Alp
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Reflections On Sphere Surface / Getting Great Circle from two 3D points

I'm trying to calculate the reflection of a point across another point, both of which are on the surface of a sphere. I believe I could do this by getting the formula for the great circle of the sphere that contains those two points, reflecting the…
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How to test whether spherical caps intersect?

I have a unit sphere, on the surface of which are defined spherical caps. I typically characterize the caps by the unit vector $n$ from the center of the sphere to the top of the cap, and the angle $\theta$. My question is: given a pair of spherical…
F'x
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Non congruent (spherical) quadrilateral with same angles

I want to construct two quadrilaterals on the unit sphere with same interior angles $\alpha_1,…,\alpha_4$ and the same perimeter, but which are not congruent to each other. Is that possible? How can one construct a counterexample or how can one…
Braten
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Intersection of perpendicular bisectors of a spherical triangle

I have 3 points on a unit sphere identified by their XYZ coordinates. They form a spherical triangle. If I'm not mistaken, perpendicular bisectors of a spherical triangle intersect in a single point, just like on a plane. What is the easiest way to…
Alexey
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Intersecting arcs on a sphere

I'm working through this paper and I'm hung up on Proposition $3.1$. To strip away the context of the problem and present it in another light: suppose there are two intersecting arcs $ab$ and $cd$ on the unit sphere of equal length $d$, then one of…
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Sphere Calculations: Determining the remaining surface area of the sphere when the sphere is cut by a vertical and horizontal plane

Sphere Calculations: Determining the remaining surface area of the sphere when the sphere is cut by a vertical and horizontal plane and the centre of the sphere is not on the vertical and horizontal axis I would really appreciate some input…
Shane
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