Calculate Distance Between Two Addresses

Haversine Formula:

\[ d = 2r \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\phi}{2}\right) + \cos(\phi_1) \times \cos(\phi_2) \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Latitude 1:

degrees

Longitude 1:

degrees

Latitude 2:

degrees

Longitude 2:

degrees

Distance:

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1. What is the Haversine Formula?

The Haversine formula calculates the great-circle distance between two points on a sphere given their longitudes and latitudes. It's particularly useful for calculating distances between geographic coordinates on Earth.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ d = 2r \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\phi}{2}\right) + \cos(\phi_1) \times \cos(\phi_2) \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Where:

\( d \) — Distance between two points
\( r \) — Earth's radius (6371 km)
\( \phi_1, \phi_2 \) — Latitude of point 1 and point 2 in radians
\( \lambda_1, \lambda_2 \) — Longitude of point 1 and point 2 in radians
\( \Delta\phi \) — Difference in latitudes
\( \Delta\lambda \) — Difference in longitudes

Explanation: The formula accounts for the spherical shape of the Earth, providing accurate distance calculations along the great-circle path.

3. Importance of Geographic Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance calculation is essential for navigation systems, logistics planning, geographic information systems, and various location-based services.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude and longitude coordinates in decimal degrees. Latitude ranges from -90° to 90°, longitude from -180° to 180°. Positive values for North/East, negative for South/West.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is the Haversine formula?
A: The Haversine formula provides very accurate results for most practical purposes, with errors typically less than 0.5% for distances up to 20,000 km.

Q2: What's the difference between Haversine and Vincenty formulas?
A: Vincenty's formulae are more accurate as they account for Earth's ellipsoidal shape, while Haversine assumes a perfect sphere.

Q3: Can I use this for driving distances?
A: This calculates straight-line (great-circle) distance. Driving distances are typically longer due to roads and terrain.

Q4: What coordinate format should I use?
A: Use decimal degrees format (e.g., 40.7128° instead of 40°42'46"N). Convert if necessary before input.

Q5: Is there a maximum distance limitation?
A: The formula works for any two points on Earth, but for antipodal points (exactly opposite sides), special consideration may be needed.