What angle does the great circle route make with each meridian of longitude?

Prepare for the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Basics Block 3 Test. Study with in-depth flashcards, hints, and explanations for each question. Ace your ATC exam!

The great circle route is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. This concept stems from the fact that the Earth's shape is roughly spherical, and as such, a great circle can be visualized as an intersection between the sphere and a plane that passes through the center of the sphere.

When it comes to the angle that the great circle route makes with each meridian of longitude, it varies depending on the specific location along the route. For any two points not located directly on the same line of longitude, the great circle will intersect meridians at different angles as it curves across the Earth's surface. This variability is due to the spherical nature of the Earth and the fact that meridians converge at the poles.

In summary, the reason the correct answer is that the great circle route makes a different angle with each meridian of longitude is that the angle of intersection is dependent on the latitude of the point being crossed, leading to a situation where the angle is not consistent but varies with respect to each meridian.

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