11/26/2024

EM 110 – FUNDAMENTALS OF
ENGINEERING MATH
FINALS
MUSA VENUS ECE

SPHERICAL
TRIGONOMETRY

 5.1 Spherical Triangles

 5.2 Right Spherical Triangle
 5.3 Oblique Spherical Triangle

Contents

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Spherical trigonometry is the study of curved triangles,

triangles drawn on the surface of a sphere.
The subject is practical, for example, because we live on
a sphere.

Spherical
Trigonometry

Spherical Triangles
Terms and  Triangles formed by the
Definitions intersection of three great circle
arcs on the surface of a sphere

Great Circle Surface Angles (A,B,C)

 Covers the shortest distance  Angle between great circles
between two points
 Angles formed between
 Essential for defining distances, intersecting great circles on the
angles and relationships on the surface of a sphere
surface of a sphere

Central Angles ( a,b,c)

 Lengths of the great circle are
measured as angles from the
center of the sphere

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 the corresponding sum of interior angles is always greater than 180°

Basic but also less than 540

 180° < A + B + C < 540°
Properties  The positive quantity E = A + B + C − 180° is called the spherical
excess of the triangle.

 The sum of three central angles is greater than 0 ° but less than 360 °
 0°> a + b + c < 360
 The quantity D = 360° - (a + b + c) is called spherical defect
 The sum of any two central angles is greater than the third
 a+b>c
 b+c>a
 a+c>b
 The area of a spherical triangle on the surface of the sphere of radius R is given by the formula

In spherical trigonometry, earth is assumed to be a perfect sphere. One

Note minute (0° 1') of arc from the center of the earth has a distance equivalent
to one (1) nautical mile (6080 feet) on the arc of great circle on the surface
of the earth.

1 minute of arc = 1 nautical mile

1 nautical mile = 6080 feet
1 statute mile = 5280 feet
1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour

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 A special type of spherical triangle where one of its angle is a

right angle

 Birectangular Spherical Triangle has two right triangles

 Trirectangular Spherical triangle has three right triangles

 With any two quantities given (three quantities if the right

angle is counted), any right spherical triangle can be solved
by following the Napier’s rules. The rules are aided with the
Napier’s circle

Right Spherical
Triangle

Solution to
Right Spherical
Triangles

Napier’s Rule Napier’s Circle

 SIN TAN – AD Rule • the sides and angle of the triangle are
 the sine of any middle part is equal to the written in consecutive order (not including
product of the tangents of its adjacent parts. the right angle), and complimentary angles
 SIN CO-OP Rule are taken for quantities opposite the right
angle.
 the sine of any middle part is equal the
product of the cosines of its opposite partsrts

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Solve for the spherical triangle whose parts are a = 73°, b = 62°, and C =
90°.
SOLUTION:

EXAMPLE
1 To solve for angle A,
To solve for side c,
use SIN-TAAD rule for b
sin 𝑏 = tan A¯ tan 𝑎 use SIN-COOP rule for c¯
sin 62 = tan 90 − 𝐴 tan 73 sin 𝑐¯ = cos 𝑎 cos 𝑏
sin 62 sin 90 − 𝑐 = cos 73 cos 62
tan 90 − 𝐴 = 90 − 𝑐 = 7.89
tan 73
90 − 𝐴 = 15.11 𝑐 = 82.11∘
𝐴 = 74.89∘

Solve for the spherical triangle whose parts are a = 73°, b = 62°, and C =
90°.
SOLUTION:

EXAMPLE
1 To solve for angle B,

use SIN-TAAD rule for b

sin 𝑎 = tan 𝑏 tan B¯
sin 73 = (tan 62 )tan 90 − 𝐵
sin 73
tan 90 − 𝐵 =
tan 62
90 − 𝐵 = 26.95
𝐵 = 63.05∘

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 A special type of spherical triangle where none of its angle is

equal to 90 or two or three of its included angles are 90°.
Spherical triangle with only one included angle equal to 90° is a
right triangle.

In solving, oblique spherical triangles, we use Law of

Sines and Law of Cosines

Oblique Spherical
Triangle

Solution to
Oblique
Spherical
Triangles

Sine Law Cosine law for sides

sin 𝑎 sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐 cos 𝑎 = cos 𝑏 cos 𝑐 + sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐴
= =
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶 cos 𝑏 = cos 𝑎 cos 𝑐 + sin 𝑎 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐵
cos 𝑐 = cos 𝑎 cos 𝑏 + sin 𝑎 sin 𝑏 cos 𝐶

Cosine law for angles

cos 𝐴 = −cos 𝐵 cos 𝐶 + sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶 cos 𝑎
cos 𝐵 = − cos 𝐴 cos 𝐶 + sin 𝐴 sin 𝐶 cos 𝑏
cos 𝐶 = −cos 𝐴 cos 𝐵 + sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 cos 𝑐

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Consider the case where we know the measurements for a, b, and C: , let a =
76o24’40”, b = 58o18’36” and C = 118o30’28”

 Solution:
 Using the Spherical Law of Cosines, we can solve for c:
cos 𝑐 = cos 𝑎 cos 𝑏 + sin 𝑎 sin 𝑏 cos 𝐶

EXAMPLE
1 using the Spherical Law of Sines to solve for the remaining Spherical Angles
sin 105.74295
=
sin 118.50778

sin 76. 41111

sin 𝐴 = (sin 118.50778)
sin 105.74295
𝐴 = 62.55 = 62°33 13′′

Consider the case where we know the measurements for a, b, and C: , let a =
76o24’40”, b = 58o18’36” and C = 118o30’28”

 Solution:
 using the Spherical Law of Sines to solve for the remaining Spherical Angles
sin 58.31
sin 𝐵 = (sin 118.50778)
sin 105.74295

EXAMPLE =
sin 105.74295

1
sin 118.50778

𝐵 = 50.98 = 50°58 31′′

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Assignment
2

1. A spherical triangle ABC has an angle C = 90° and sides a = 50° and
c = 80°. Find the other side and angles.
2. In the following Oblique spherical triangle given that : B = 65° 33` ,
b = 64` 23` 15" , a = 99° 40` 48“. Find the other side and angles