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Solid angle
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=== Latitude-longitude rectangle === The solid angle of a latitude-longitude rectangle on a [[globe]] is <math display=block>\left ( \sin \phi_\mathrm{N} - \sin \phi_\mathrm{S} \right ) \left ( \theta_\mathrm{E} - \theta_\mathrm{W} \,\! \right)\;\mathrm{sr},</math> where {{math|''φ''<sub>N</sub>}} and {{math|''φ''<sub>S</sub>}} are north and south lines of [[latitude]] (measured from the [[equator]] in [[radian]]s with angle increasing northward), and {{math|''θ''<sub>E</sub>}} and {{math|''θ''<sub>W</sub>}} are east and west lines of [[longitude]] (where the angle in radians increases eastward).<ref>{{cite journal| year = 2003| title = Area of a Latitude-Longitude Rectangle| journal = The Math Forum @ Drexel| url = http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/63767.html}}</ref> Mathematically, this represents an arc of angle {{math|''ϕ''<sub>N</sub> − ''ϕ''<sub>S</sub>}} swept around a sphere by {{math|''θ''<sub>E</sub> − ''θ''<sub>W</sub>}} radians. When longitude spans 2{{pi}} radians and latitude spans {{pi}} radians, the solid angle is that of a sphere. A latitude-longitude rectangle should not be confused with the solid angle of a rectangular pyramid. All four sides of a rectangular pyramid intersect the sphere's surface in [[great circle]] arcs. With a latitude-longitude rectangle, only lines of longitude are great circle arcs; lines of latitude are not.
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