In nautical terms, one minute of arc corresponds to how many nautical miles?

In nautical terms, one minute of arc corresponds to how many nautical miles?

• A. One nautical mile
• B. Two nautical miles
• C. 0.5 nautical miles
• D. 10 nautical miles

Answer: (A)

In nautical navigation, distances are measured in nautical miles, and a nautical mile is defined as the distance corresponding to one minute of arc along a great circle of the Earth (essentially one minute of latitude along a meridian). Since the Earth’s circumference is 360 degrees and each degree contains 60 minutes, there are 21,600 nautical miles around. Therefore one degree equals 60 nautical miles, and one minute of arc equals 60 nautical miles divided by 60, which is 1 nautical mile. So the correct choice is that one minute of arc corresponds to one nautical mile. (Note: one minute of longitude only equals one nautical mile at the equator; distances for longitude vary with latitude.)

In nautical navigation, distances are measured in nautical miles, and a nautical mile is defined as the distance corresponding to one minute of arc along a great circle of the Earth (essentially one minute of latitude along a meridian). Since the Earth’s circumference is 360 degrees and each degree contains 60 minutes, there are 21,600 nautical miles around. Therefore one degree equals 60 nautical miles, and one minute of arc equals 60 nautical miles divided by 60, which is 1 nautical mile. So the correct choice is that one minute of arc corresponds to one nautical mile. (Note: one minute of longitude only equals one nautical mile at the equator; distances for longitude vary with latitude.)