Spherical Geometry

The geometry weve been studying is called Euclidean Geometry. Thats because there was this guy - Euclid.

Euclid assumed 5 basic postulates. Remember that a postulate is something we accept as true - it doesnt have to be proven.

One of those postulates states: Through any point not on a line, there is exactly one line through it that is parallel to the line.

Your drawing should look like this:

this is the only line that you can make go through that point and be parallel to that line

Heres the big question: Is that true in a spherical world like earth?

So basically we need to know: What is a line?

Does it look like this?

Or does it take on the form of a projectile circling the globe? (like the equator?)

Well, some of the other ancient mathematicians decided to define a spherical line so that it is similar to the equator. This is called a great circle.

In spherical geometry, the equivalent Draw a line on your sphere then of a line Make a conjecture about in spherical geometry. is called a lines great circle.
Euclidean
Two points make a line.

Spherical

B
B

Draw another line on your sphere.

Spherical

B A

What happened here that wouldnt happen in Euclidean geometry?

Look at the number of intersection points. 2
Look at the number of angles formed. 8

In spherical geometry, then, a line is not straight - it is a great circle.

Examples of great circles are the lines of longitude and the equator.

Lines of latitude do not work because they do not necessarily have the same diameter as the earth. The equator is the only line of latitude that is a great circle.

So what these guys figured out is that this geometry isnt like Euclids at all.
For instance - what about Parallel lines and his postulate?

(we mentioned this earlier!)

Are lines of longitude or the equator parallel?

NO!

Are there any other great circles that are parallel?

NO!

So, what can you conclude from this?

There are no parallel lines on a sphere!

What about perpendicular lines? Do we still have these?

YES! The equator & lines of longitude form right angles!

How many right angles are formed when perpendicular lines intersect?
8! Four on the front side & four on the back.

What about triangles are there still triangles on a sphere? Lets look!

Draw a 3rd line on your sphere. In Euclidean Geometry, 3 lines usually make a triangle

Is this true in spherical geometry?

B A C

A C

What about the angles of a triangle?

Now move A and C to the equator. Move B to the top, what happens?

Estimate the 3 angles Euclidean of your triangle. B Find the sum of these angles.
A

Spherical

Make a conjecture about the sum of theC angles of a triangle in spherical geometry.

The sum of the angles in a triangle on a sphere doesnt ! A have to be 180 C Lets look at an example of this.

What would happen if you moved A & C to opposite points on the great circle?
What is the measure of angle B? 180 What is the sum of the angles in this triangle? 360 Could you get a larger sum?