Geodesy vs. Geodesic — What's the Difference?

Geodesy ( jee-OD-ə-see) is the Earth science of accurately measuring and understanding Earth's figure (geometric shape and size), orientation in space, and gravity. The field also incorporates studies of how these properties change over time and equivalent measurements for other planets (known as planetary geodesy).

In geometry, a geodesic () is commonly a curve representing in some sense the shortest path (arc) between two points in a surface, or more generally in a Riemannian manifold. The term also has meaning in any differentiable manifold with a connection.

The geologic science of the size and shape of the earth.

Of or relating to the geometry of geodesics.

The discipline which deals with the measurement and representation of Earth, its gravitational field and geodynamic phenomena (polar motion, Earth tides, and crustal motion) in three-dimensional, time-varying space

Of or relating to geodesy.

That branch of applied mathematics which determines, by means of observations and measurements, the figures and areas of large portions of the earth's surface, or the general figure and dimenshions of the earth; or that branch of surveying in which the curvature of the earth is taken into account, as in the surveys of States, or of long lines of coast.

Having a structure consisting of lightweight rods or poles joined so as to form interlocking polygons whose vertices lie on an imaginary sphere

The branch of geology that studies the shape of the earth and the determination of the exact position of geographical points

The shortest path between two points on any mathematically defined surface.

(geometry) The shortest curve between two points on a specific surface.

(spherical geometry) A segment of a great circle.

A course allowing the parallel-transport of vectors along a course that causes tangent vectors to remain tangent vectors throughout that course a straight curve, a line that is straight.

Of or relating to geodesy.

Of or relating to a geodesic dome.

Of or pertaining to geodesy; geodetic.

Made of lightweight structural supporting elements connected in a manner to provide great rigidity; - of structures; as, The geodesic dome was invented by R. Buckminster Fuller.

A geodetic line or curve.

(mathematics) the shortest line between two points on a mathematically defined surface (as a straight line on a plane or an arc of a great circle on a sphere)

Of or resembling a geodesic dome

Of or relating to or determined by geodesy