Coast Guard Exams
Question 1664Navigation General70% to pass

A line on the Earth parallel to the equator is a _______________.

AI Explanation
The correct answer is C) small circle. A line on the Earth parallel to the equator is a small circle, which is a circle on the surface of the Earth where the plane of the circle is perpendicular to the Earth's axis. This is in contrast to a great circle, which is the largest possible circle on the surface of the Earth formed by the intersection of the Earth's surface and a plane passing through the Earth's center. The other options are incorrect: a gnomonic curve is a projection used in map making, and a meridian is a line of longitude running from the North Pole to the South Pole.

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