félgömb

Félgömb is an Icelandic word that translates to "hemisphere" in English. It refers to exactly half of a sphere. Imagine a sphere being cut precisely in half by a plane passing through its center; each of those two resulting halves is a félgömb. Félgömb is a fundamental geometric concept with applications in various fields.

In geography, the Earth is commonly divided into hemispheres. The most prominent divisions are the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere, separated by the equator. The Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere are also frequently referenced, divided by the Prime Meridian and the 180th meridian. These divisions are crucial for understanding global climate, time zones, and geographical locations.

In astronomy, celestial bodies are also described in terms of hemispheres. For instance, the celestial sphere can be divided into the northern and southern celestial hemispheres. Scientific and mathematical discussions often utilize the concept of a félgömb when calculating surface areas, volumes, or studying spherical geometry. The term's Icelandic origin highlights its directness in describing this specific geometric shape.