Jupiter great circles
Geometry
Level
3
Great circles A and B both circle the planet Jupiter. Great circle A goes around the equator while Great circle B goes through the poles. Which route is shorter?
Great circle A
Great circle B
Both are the same distance
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1 solution
The planet Jupiter, as with Earth, has a bulge along its equator. Considering distances on Jupiter are huge, the bulge creates only a slight percentage difference between route A or B. However, Wikipedia states that Jupiter's equitorial bulge is over 10,000 km (over 6,000 miles). Therefore, route B -- the polar route -- is the shorter route.