Walking Home Distance Calculator

Haversine Formula:

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

Home Latitude:

degrees

Home Longitude:

degrees

Current Latitude:

degrees

Current Longitude:

degrees

Distance to Home:

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 important in navigation and geography for calculating distances between locations on Earth.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

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

Where:

\( r \) — 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 between latitudes
\( \Delta\lambda \) — Difference between longitudes

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

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance calculation is essential for navigation, travel planning, logistics, and location-based services. It helps determine the shortest path between two points on Earth's surface.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter coordinates in decimal degrees format. Latitude must be between -90 and 90 degrees, longitude between -180 and 180 degrees. Positive values for North and East, negative for South and West.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Can I use this for walking distance estimation?
A: Yes, but note that this calculates straight-line distance. Actual walking distance may be longer due to terrain, roads, and obstacles.

Q3: What's the difference between great-circle and rhumb line distance?
A: Great-circle distance (calculated here) is the shortest path between two points on a sphere. Rhumb line maintains a constant compass bearing.

Q4: How do I get my current coordinates?
A: Most smartphones and modern browsers can provide your current location through GPS or network-based positioning.

Q5: Can I calculate distance in miles instead of kilometers?
A: Simply multiply the result by 0.621371 to convert kilometers to miles.