Walking Distance Calculator Between Two Points

Haversine Formula:

\[ d = 2 \times 6371 \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin²(\Delta lat/2) + \cos(lat1) \times \cos(lat2) \times \sin²(\Delta lon/2)}\right) \]

Latitude 1:

radians

Longitude 1:

radians

Latitude 2:

radians

Longitude 2:

radians

Distance (d):

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From:	To:

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 walking distance approximations on Earth's surface.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ d = 2 \times 6371 \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin²(\Delta lat/2) + \cos(lat1) \times \cos(lat2) \times \sin²(\Delta lon/2)}\right) \]

Where:

\( d \) — Distance in kilometers
\( lat1, lon1 \) — Latitude and longitude of first point (radians)
\( lat2, lon2 \) — Latitude and longitude of second point (radians)
\( \Delta lat \) — Difference in latitudes
\( \Delta lon \) — Difference in longitudes
6371 — Earth's radius in kilometers

Explanation: The formula accounts for the spherical shape of the Earth to provide accurate distance calculations between any two points on the globe.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance calculation is crucial for navigation, route planning, logistics, and various geographic applications. The Haversine formula provides a mathematically sound method for calculating great-circle distances.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude and longitude coordinates for both points in radians. Ensure all values are valid geographic coordinates within appropriate ranges.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use radians instead of degrees?
A: The Haversine formula requires angular measurements in radians for trigonometric functions. Convert degrees to radians by multiplying by π/180.

Q2: How accurate is the Haversine formula?
A: The formula provides excellent accuracy for most applications, typically within 0.5% of the actual great-circle distance.

Q3: Can this be used for walking distance specifically?
A: While it calculates straight-line distance, it serves as a good approximation for walking distance planning, though actual paths may vary.

Q4: What's the maximum distance this can calculate?
A: The formula works for any distance on Earth's surface, from a few meters to the maximum possible (approximately 20,000 km).

Q5: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: It assumes a perfect sphere, while Earth is an oblate spheroid. For extreme precision, more complex formulas like Vincenty's may be used.