1. What is the Earth Curvature Formula?

The Earth curvature formula calculates the amount of "drop" or height obstruction caused by Earth's curvature over a given distance. The simple approximation formula is useful for quick calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple curvature formula:

Where:

• \( d \) — Distance in miles
• 8 — Constant representing inches per mile squared

Explanation: The formula approximates the vertical drop due to Earth's curvature. The actual Earth's radius is about 3959 miles, and this formula provides a simplified calculation.

3. Importance of Curvature Calculation

Details: Understanding Earth's curvature is important for various applications including surveying, astronomy, photography, and understanding visual phenomena.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter distance in miles. The calculator will compute the approximate drop in inches due to Earth's curvature.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this simple formula?
A: It's a good approximation for distances up to a few hundred miles. For more precise calculations, exact trigonometric formulas should be used.

Q2: Why does the drop increase with the square of distance?
A: Because the Earth is roughly spherical, the curvature effect accumulates non-linearly with distance.

Q3: Does this account for refraction?
A: No, this simple formula doesn't account for atmospheric refraction which can slightly alter apparent curvature.

Q4: What's the exact formula?
A: The exact formula is \( h = r - \sqrt{r^2 - d^2} \) where r is Earth's radius (≈3959 miles).

Q5: How does this relate to horizon distance?
A: The horizon distance is when the drop equals the observer's height. For a 6ft observer, horizon is about 3 miles.