Chapter 16, Problem 15A

What is a geodesic?

To determine

To Explain: The Geodesic.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The geometry of the earth on two-dimensional surface differs from the Euclidean geometry of the flat plane.

The line of shortest distance is Geodesic. The light beam follows a geodesic path across the planet. The freely falling objects, satellites follow the geodesic path.

Conclusion:

Geodesic means line of shortest distance.