Circle of a sphere Circle of a sphere A circle of a sphere is a circle that lies on a sphere. Such a circle can be formed as the intersection of a sphere and a plane, or of two spheres. A circle on a sphere whose plane passes through the center of the sphere is called a great circle; otherwise it is a small circle. Circles of a sphere have radius less than or equal to the sphere radius, with equality when the circle is a great circle. In the geographic coordinate system on a globe, the parallels of latitude are such circles, with
Instant centre of rotation and P-B. The direction of speed of point A is indicated by vector V. Its instant center of rotation must be perpendicular to this vector (as V is tangentially located on the circumference of a circle). The only line that fills the requirement is a line colinear with link P-A. Somewhere on this line there is a point P, the instant center of rotation for the body BAC. What applies to point A also applies to point B, therefore this instant center of rotation P is located on a line perpendicular to vector V, a line colinear with link P-B.