Geodesy ALL Flashcards
__________ thought that the earth is a flat disk supporting a hemispherical sky
a. Homer
b. Pythagoras
c. Aristotle
d. Eratosthenes
a. Homer
__________ suggested that the earth is a spherical shape on the basis that the sphere
was considered a perfect shape and not from observations.
a. Homer
b. Pythagoras
c. Aristotle
d. Eratosthenes
b. Pythagoras
__________ gave arguments that would support the hypothesis that the earth must be
spherical in shape. Reasons mentioned are as follows:
i. Changing horizons as one travels in various directions.
ii. Round shadow of the earth that was observed in lunar eclipses.
iii. The observation of a ship at sea where more (or less) of the ship is seen as the
ship approaches (or goes away)
a. Homer
b. Pythagoras
c. Aristotle
d. Eratosthenes
c. Aristotle
The first attempt at a precise determination of the size of the earth is ascribed to
__________ of Egypt. The developments in Egypt were a natural follow up to the
developments made in surveying for the purpose of property location.
a. Homer
b. Pythagoras
c. Aristotle
d. Eratosthenes
d. Eratosthenes
In the 17th Century, __________ carried out measurements along a meridian in the
Netherlands. For the first time for this purpose, he used a triangulation procedure with
one-minute precision. Combining this measurement with astronomic latitude made at the
endpoints of the meridian arc, he determined the size of the spherical earth.
a. Richer
b. Snellius
c. Picard
d. Cassini
b. Snellius
In 1666, the Académie Royale des Science was established to carry out measurements
for the preparation of the accurate map of France and the determination of the size of
the earth. The computations made from these measurements indicated that the length of
the meridian arc was smaller towards the poles. It implied that the earth is __________
in shape.
a. oblate
b. prolate
c. spherical
d. irregular
b. prolate
__________, in considering his attraction theory, postulated that the rotating earth
should be flattened in the __________. This would imply that as one travels towards the
equator we go farther from the center of the earth.
a. Bouguer, equator
b. Bouguer, poles
c. Newton, equator
d. Newton, poles
d. Newton, poles
________ observed that pendulum clocks that kept good time in Paris lose 2 ½
minutes per day when brought to Cayenne, Guiana, near the equator in South America.
This indicates that the earth is flattened at the poles.
a. Richer
b. Snellius
c. Picard
d. Cassini
a. Richer
In the 1730s, the Académie Royale des Science had two geodetic survey missions. One
expedition was sent to Peru (now Ecuador at a latitude of about 1-5 degrees under the
direction of Godin, La Condamine and Bouguer. The second expedition was sent to
Lapland (at a latitude of about 66.3 degrees) under the direction of Maupertuis. The
result of these measurements indicated that the length of 1 degree of meridian was
greater in the __________ regions than the __________ regions; indicating that the
earth can be represented by an ellipsoid slightly flattened at the poles.
a. polar; equatorial
b. equatorial; polar
c. tropics; polar
d. equatorial; tropics
a. polar; equatorial
A second of latitude near the equator bears what relationship to a second of arc near the
pole?
a. A second of latitude near the poles is approximately a foot longer than a second
of latitude near the equator
b. A second of latitude has the same length regardless of its distance from the
equator.
c. A second of latitude near the poles is approximately a foot shorter than a second
of latitude near the equator
d. Each second of latitude north of the equator grows progressively shorter until it
reaches a point at the pole.
a. A second of latitude near the poles is approximately a foot longer than a second
of latitude near the equator
C is equal to:
a. √(𝑎 − 𝑏)
b. √(𝑏 − 𝑎)
c. √(𝑎^2 + 𝑏^2)
d. √(𝑎^2 − 𝑏^2)
d. √(𝑎^2 − 𝑏^2)
__________ is a measure of the compression of a circle or sphere along a diameter to
form an ellipse or an ellipsoid of revolution (spheroid) respectively. Other terms used are
ellipticity, or oblateness.
a. Eccentricity
b. Linear eccentricity
c. Flattening
d. Angular eccentricity
c. Flattening
Polar flattening (f) is defined as:
a. (𝑎 − 𝑏)/𝑎
b. (𝑎^2 − 𝑏^2)/𝑎^2
c. (𝑎^2 − 𝑏^2)/𝑏^2
d. 1 −𝑎/b
a. (𝑎 − 𝑏)/𝑎
The angular eccentricity (𝛼) is the angle at P1 between the minor and a line drawn from
P1, to either F1 or F2. Which of the following equations define 𝛼
a. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 = 𝑏/𝑎= 1 − 𝑓
b. 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 = 𝑒′
c. 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼 = 𝑒
d. All of the above
a. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 = 𝑏/𝑎= 1 − 𝑓
The linear eccentricity (E) is defined as:
a. E = ae
b. E = af
c. E = ae’
d. E = ef
a. E = ae
Which of the following equations are true?
a. 𝑒^2 = 1 −𝑏^2/𝑎^2
b. 𝑏/𝑎= 1 − 𝑓
c. 𝑒^2 = 2𝑓 − 𝑓^2
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Which of the following define the size of an ellipse?
a. Semi-major axis length (a)
b. Flattening (f)
c. First eccentricity (e)
d. Second eccentricity (e’)
a. Semi-major axis length (a)
The value 6,378,206.4 m is the semi-major axis of the __________ ellipsoid.
a. Clarke (1880)
b. Clarke (1866)
c. World Geodetic System (1984), WGS84
d. Geodetic Reference System (1980), GRS80
b. Clarke (1866)
Which of the following terms describes a great circle on which every point is equidistant
from the north and south pole?
a. prime meridian
b. international date line
c. tropic of Capricorn
d. terrestrial equator
d. terrestrial equator
Which of the following statements correctly describes properties of the geographical
coordinate known as latitude?
a. Latitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds north or south of the
equator
b. Every position on earth has a unique latitude, which is unlike the latitude of any
other position on the earth
c. A parallel of latitude is a great circle on the surface of the earth
d. All of the above are true
a. Latitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds north or south of the
equator
Which of the following statements correctly describes the properties of the geographical
coordinate known as longitude?
a. Each meridian of longitude lies in the plane of a great circle
b. The distance along a parallel of latitude trough a degree of longitude grows
smaller as the latitude approaches 90°.
c. 15° of longitude equals one mean solar hour.
d. All of the above are true
d. All of the above are true
The __________ latitude of a point P is the angle at the origin and in the meridian plane
from the equator to the radial line through P.
a. geocentric
b. geodetic
c. reduced or parametric
d. Isometric
a. geocentric
The __________ latitude of a point P is defined as the angle at the origin and in the
meridian from the equator to the radial line that intersects the projection of P, along a
perpendicular to the equator, at a sphere of radius 𝑣 = √𝐸2 + 𝑢
2.
a. geocentric
b. geodetic
c. reduced or parametric
d. Isometric
c. reduced or parametric
The __________ latitude of a point P is the angle from the meridian plane from the
equator to the line through P that is also perpendicular to the ellipsoid.
a. geocentric
b. geodetic
c. reduced or parametric
d. Isometric
b. geodetic
The geodetic, reduced, and geocentric latitudes are usually designated by the symbols
____, _____, and ____ respectively.
a. 𝜓,𝜙, 𝛽
b. 𝜙, 𝜓, 𝛽
c. 𝛽, 𝜓,𝜙
d. 𝜙, 𝛽, 𝜓
d. 𝜙, 𝛽, 𝜓
The prime vertical radius of curvature at the equator equal to:
a. a
b. b
c. a(1-e)
d. a(1-f)
a. a
Which of the following statements is/are true?
a. At any point, M and N are, respectively, the minimum and maximum radii of
curvature for all normal sections through the point.
b. The value of M and N are equal at the equator
c. N at pole < N at equator
d. All statements are true
a. At any point, M and N are, respectively, the minimum and maximum radii of
curvature for all normal sections through the point.
The Y-coordinate of the station can be determined by the equation:
a. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆
b. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
c. (𝑁(1 − 𝑒^2) + ℎ)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙
d. None of the above
b. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
The Z-coordinate of the station can be determined by the equation:
a. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆
b. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
c. (𝑁(1 − 𝑒^2) + ℎ)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙
d. None of the above
c. (𝑁(1 − 𝑒^2) + ℎ)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙
The X-coordinate of the station can be determined by the equation:
a. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆
b. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
c. (𝑁(1 − 𝑒^2) + ℎ)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙
d. None of the above
a. (𝑁 + ℎ)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆
_________ — a branch of applied mathematics and earth sciences, is the scientific
discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its
gravitational field, in a __________-dimensional time-varying space.
a. Physical Geodesy, two
b. Physical Geodesy, three
c. Geodesy, two
d. Geodesy, three
d. Geodesy, three
The Earth has an equatorial bulge due to its rotation. That is, its diameter measured
across the equatorial plane is __________ km more than that measured between the
poles.
e. 52.72
f. 42.72
g. 32.72
h. 22.36
f. 42.72
The mean radius of the earth is equivalent to:
a. ((2𝑎+𝑏)/3)
b. (𝑎+2𝑏)/3)
c. 3^√(𝑎^2𝑏)
d. 3^√(𝑎𝑏^2)
a. ((2𝑎+𝑏)/3)
The radius of a perfect sphere with an equivalent surface area as that of an ellipsoid is
called:
a. Conformal radius
b. Authalic Radius
c. Aphylactic Radius
d. Equidistant Radius
b. Authalic Radius
The Earth’s Volumetric Radius is equivalent to:
a. ((2𝑎+𝑏)/3)
b. (𝑎+2𝑏)/3)
c. 3^√(𝑎^2𝑏)
d. 3^√(𝑎𝑏^2)
c. 3^√(𝑎^2𝑏)
Given the X, Y, and Z coordinates of a point, determine the equivalent longitude
a. ƛ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑋/𝑌)
b. ƛ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑍/𝑌)
c. ƛ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑋/𝑍)
d. ƛ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑌/𝑋)
d. ƛ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑌/𝑋)
The normal section from point A to point B is:
a. The intersection from a plane containing the normal at point B and passes through
point A
b. The intersection from a plane containing the normal at point A and passes through
point B
c. The intersection from a plane containing the normal between point A and point B
d. All the above
b. The intersection from a plane containing the normal at point A and passes through
point B
which of the following is/are true for normal sections
a. The more northerly the location of a point, the farther the south of the axis of
rotation intersected by the normal
b. If two points are on the same meridian, the normal sections will coincide
c. If two points are on the same parallel, the normal sections will coincide
d. All the above
d. All the above
Which of the following is/are true for normal sections?
a. Maximum separation of normal sections occur for lines having azimuths as odd
multiples of 45°.
b. Separation is zero if the points lie on the same meridian
c. Separation is zero if the points lie on the same parallel
d. All the above
d. All the above
Which of the following is/are true for normal sections?
a. Maximum separation of normal sections occur for lines having azimuths as odd
multiples of 45°.
b. Separation is zero if the points lie on the same meridian
c. Separation is zero if the points lie on the same parallel
d. All the above
d. All the above
Azimuth correction due to height is applied
a. if the surface is a sphere
b. when observed point is at a certain height above/below the surface of the ellipsoid
c. the observer is at a certain height above or below surface the ellipsoid
d. all the above
b. when observed point is at a certain height above/below the surface of the ellipsoid
If the azimuth of point B from point A is given, the back azimuth is the azimuth of point A
from point B. Because of the __________, the forward and backward azimuths of a line
do not differ by exactly 180°. (except when A and B are on the same meridian or at
latitude equal to 0°)
a. Location of the observer
b. Convergence of meridian
c. Instrument error
d. Random error
b. Convergence of meridian
The geodesic approximately __________ the angle between the counter (or reciprocal)
normal sections, lying __________ to the direct normal section at a given point.
a. trisects, farther
b. trisects, closer
c. bisects, farther
d. bisects, closer
b. trisects, closer
The product of the parallel radius time the sine of the geodesic azimuth at any point on
the geodesic is a constant.
p sin ⍺ = constant.
This equation is known as
a. Molodensky’s Equation
b. Helmertz’s Equation
c. Clairaut’s Equation
d. Cassini’s Equation
c. Clairaut’s Equation
Which of the following is/are true about geodesics
a. any meridian is a geodesic
b. the shortest distance between diametrically opposite on the equator points is along
the equator
c. Parallels are geodesic
d. All the above
a. any meridian is a geodesic
Given point 1 (ɸ1, ƛ1), azimuth1-2, distance12, determine point 2(ɸ2, ƛ2) and azimuth21.
This geodesic problem is commonly called:
a. geodetic direct
b. geodetic inverse
c. geodetic transverse
d. geodetic location
a. geodetic direct
Given point 1 (ɸ1, ƛ1) and point 2 ( ɸ2, ƛ2), required is the distance12, azimuth12, azimuth21.
This geodesic problem is commonly called:
a. geodetic direct
b. geodetic inverse
c. geodetic transverse
d. geodetic location
b. geodetic inverse
A __________ is a set of parameters and constants that defines a coordinate system,
including its origin and (where appropriate) its orientation and scale, in such a way as to
make these accessible for geodetic applications.
a. Horizontal datum
b. Vertical Datum
c. Geodetic Datum
d. Astronomic Datum
c. Geodetic Datum
. A __________ is a geodetic datum for horizontal geodetic control in which points are
mapped onto a specified ellipsoid.
a. Horizontal datum
b. Vertical Datum
c. Geodetic Datum
d. Astronomic Datum
a. Horizontal datum
A __________ is a geodetic datum for vertical geodetic control in which points are
mapped to the geopotential.
a. Horizontal datum
b. Vertical Datum
c. Geodetic Datum
d. Astronomic Datum
b. Vertical Datum
A horizontal geodetic datum is composed of the following:
I. latitude and longitude
II. orientation of an initial point of origin
III. ellipsoid that models the surface of the earth in the region of interest
IV. scale factor
V. geoid-ellipsoid separation
a. I, II
b. I, II
c. I,II, III, IV
d. I, II, III, IV, V
c. I,II, III, IV
The effect earth’s curvature (in meters) for height observations is equal to __________
where K is the horizontal distance in kilometers.
a. 0.0785K2
b. 0.0675K2
c. 0.0110K2
d. 0.0655K2
a. 0.0785K2
. The effect of refraction (in meters) for height observations is equal to __________ where
K is the horizontal distance in kilometers
a. 0.0785K2
b. 0.0675K2
c. 0.0110K2
d. 0.0655K2
c. 0.0110K2
The combined effect of earth’s curvature and the effect of refraction (in meters) for
height observations is equal to __________ where K is the horizontal distance in
kilometers
a. 0.0785K2
b. 0.0675K2
c. 0.0110K2
d. 0.0655K2
b. 0.0675K2
The equation for converting geodetic to grid azimuth is t = α – γ + δ where t is the grid
azimuth, α is the geodetic azimuth, γ is the convergence. The term δ is the
a. arc to chord correction
b. chord to arc correction
c. plane to spherical correction
d. spherical to plane conversion
a. arc to chord correction
A __________ is a set of prescriptions and conventions together with the modeling required
to define at any time a triad of coordinate axes.
a. Reference system
b. Reference frame
c. Geoid
d. Datum
a. Reference system
A __________ realizes the system by means of coordinates of definite points that are
accessible directly by occupation or by observation.
a. Reference system
b. Reference frame
c. Geoid
d. Datum
b. Reference frame
The sum of the __________ and the __________ acting on a body is called gravity.
a. gravitational force; centripetal force
b. gravitational force; centrifugal force
c. centripetal force; centrifugal force
d. centrifugal force; coriolis
b. gravitational force; centrifugal force
The unit of gravity, gal, is defined as
a. cm/s
b. m/s
c. cm/s^2
d. m/s^2
c. cm/s^2
Which of the following is/are true?
a. The gravitational force is stronger compared to the centrifugal force.
b. The gravitational force is weaker compared to the centrifugal force.
c. The gravitational force has almost the same magnitude to the centrifugal force
d. The direction of the gravitational force is toward the spin axis
a. The gravitational force is stronger compared to the centrifugal force.
Two distinctly different types of gravity measurements are: __________ and
__________.
a. absolute; differential
b. exact; relative
c. absolute; relative
d. exact; differential
c. absolute; relative
Gravity readings observed at each gravity station after corrections have been applied for
instrument drift and earth tides.
a. normal gravity
b. observed gravity
c. corrected gravity
d. potential gravity
b. observed gravity
An approximation of the true gravity on Earth’s surface by means of a mathematical
model representing Earth.
a. normal gravity
b. observed gravity
c. corrected gravity
d. potential gravity
a. normal gravity
The free-air anomaly height correction for every meter ABOVE _________ is
__________ mgal
a. sea level, -0.3086
b. terrain, -0.3086
c. sea level, +0.3086
d. terrain, +.03086
c. sea level, +0.3086
The __________ is a first- order correction to account for the excess mass underlying
observation points located at elevations higher than the elevation datum (sea level or the
geoid). Conversely, it accounts for a mass deficiency at observation points located below
the elevation datum.
a. Mass correction
b. Terrain correction
c. Eötvös correction
d. Bouguer correction
d. Bouguer correction
The __________ is only needed when a survey is conducted on a mobile vehicle, where
the velocity of the vehicle must be taken into account. This motion produces a centrifugal
force that should be taken into account. The only need to this correction is when motion
is in an E-W traverse, with positive being in this respective direction.
a. Mass correction
b. Terrain correction
c. Eötvös correction
d. Bouguer correction
c. Eötvös correction
______ was a Hungarian physicist who is known for his invention of the torsion
pendulum used to measure the density of the underlying rock strata and the
__________ of gravity.
a. Loránd Eötvös, magnitude
b. Loránd Eötvös, direction
c. Pierre Bouguer, magnitude
d. Pierre Bouguer, direction
a. Loránd Eötvös, magnitude
. Which of the following accurately defines the Pendulum Law?
a. 𝑷 = 𝝅√(𝒍/𝒈)
b. 𝑷 = 𝟐𝝅√(𝒍/𝒈)
c. 𝑷 = 𝝅√(𝒍^𝟐/𝒈)
d. 𝑷 = 𝟐𝝅√𝒍^𝟐/𝒈)
b. 𝑷 = 𝟐𝝅√(𝒍/𝒈)
The equipotential surface to which at every point the plumb line is __________ is called
the geoid.
a. parallel
b. tangent
c. perpendicular
d. deflect
c. perpendicular
The __________ is the difference in direction between the direction of Earth’s gravity
vector and some reference direction, such as the direction perpendicular to a given
reference ellipsoid or the direction of some reference gravity field (the normal gravity)
a. obliquity of the vertical
b. deflection of the vertical
c. angle of the vertical
d. perpendicularity
b. deflection of the vertical
_________ (30 July 1887 – 10 August 1966) was a Dutch geophysicist and geodesist.
He is known for his invention of a precise method for measuring gravity (gravimetry).
Thanks to his invention, it became possible to measure gravity at sea, which led him to
the discovery of gravity anomalies above the ocean floor. He later attributed these
anomalies to continental drift.
a. Pierre Bouguer
b. Loránd Eötvös
c. Felix Andries Vening Meinesz
d. Gunnar Nordström
c. Felix Andries Vening Meinesz
A geoid is the equipotential surface of the Earth’s gravity field which best fits, in a least
squares sense, __________ mean sea level.
a. global
b. regional
c. national
d. hemispherical
a. global
_______ are the differences between the observed acceleration of Earth’s gravity
and the values predicted from some model of how the gravity would be predicted to
appear.
a. gravity correction
b. gravity difference
c. gravity anomaly
d. gravity attraction
c. gravity anomaly
Vertical deflection is deviation of actual plumbline from normal plumbline. Actual
plumbline is perpendicular to geoid while normal plumbline is perpendicular to ellipsoid.
In the flat area, the deviation value can be __________, while in mountainous area, the
deflection values are __________ and must be considered as systematic error.
a. large, ignored
b. ignored; large
c. ignored, ignored
d. small, large
b. ignored; large
Which of the following is/are true about the geoid?
a. The geoid coincides with that surface to which oceans would conform over the
entire earth if free to adjust to the combined effect of the earth’s mass attraction
and the centrifugal force of the earth’s rotation.
b. The geoid is the shape of an imaginary global ocean dictated by gravity in the
absence of tides and currents.
c. As a result of uneven distribution of the earth’s mass, the geoidal surface is
irregular and, since the ellipsoid is a regular surface, the two will not coincide.
d. All the above
d. All the above
If a gps receiver readout displays a height = +36.05 meters and the geoid undulation, N,
is equal to 25.73 meters, calculate the orthometric height, H, in meters. of the point.
a. 9.32 m
b. 12.32
c. 10.32
d. 11.32
c. 10.32
The _______ velocity of the point is dependent on the_________.
angular; Φ
Who developed theory of Pendulum Behavior?
Christiaan Huygens
Which qualities belong:
I. Normal
II. Cylindrical
III. Azimuthal
IV. Transversal
V. Conical
a. I, III & V
b. II, III, & V
c. II, III
d. I & V
b. II, III, & V
Displays all great circles as straight lines.
gnomonic
Which qualities belong:
I. Conformality
II. Equidistance
III. Aspect
IV. Azimuthality
V. Aphylactic
a. I, II, III, & IV
b. II, III, IV & V
c. I, III, IV, & V
d. I, II, IV, & V
In _______, a new national civil Grid introduced for the Luzon Datum of 1911, and it was changed to the Gauss-Kruger Transverse Mercator projection.
1962
An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines
RA 3046
_______ scattering occurs when particles are very small compared to the wavelength of the radiation.
Rayleigh
_______ remote sensing instruments operate with their own source of emission or light, while _______ ones rely on the reflected one.
active, passive
Which ideas belong:
I. Drone
II. LiDAR
III. Boat
IV. Helicopter
V. Car
I, II, IV, V