A line crossing meridians at a constant angle is also known as which term?

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Multiple Choice

A line crossing meridians at a constant angle is also known as which term?

A line crossing meridians at a constant angle is a loxodrome, the path of constant bearing. This means as you move, you maintain the same angle relative to every meridian, so your compass direction stays fixed. That property distinguishes a loxodrome from a great circle, which changes its crossing angle with meridians as you travel. On a Mercator map, such a line appears as a straight path, which is why navigators favor it for plotting a constant-heading route. Parallels, by contrast, intersect meridians at 90 degrees, but they represent constant latitude rather than a general constant bearing line. So the term that fits the description is a loxodrome.

A line crossing meridians at a constant angle is a loxodrome, the path of constant bearing. This means as you move, you maintain the same angle relative to every meridian, so your compass direction stays fixed. That property distinguishes a loxodrome from a great circle, which changes its crossing angle with meridians as you travel. On a Mercator map, such a line appears as a straight path, which is why navigators favor it for plotting a constant-heading route. Parallels, by contrast, intersect meridians at 90 degrees, but they represent constant latitude rather than a general constant bearing line. So the term that fits the description is a loxodrome.

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