Curvature of Earth

Estimate the curvature of Earth over distances less than 1000 miles

This is a simple model of Earth Curvature.

% Syntax
C = earthcurve(x,y)
C = earthcurve(x,y,xo,yo)

% Description
C = earthcurve(x,y) gives the curvature of the Earth in meters as a function of distance x,y in meters.

C = earthcurve(x,y,xo,yo) specifies a reference location (xo,yo) for the calculation. If (xo,yo) is not specified, (xo,yo) is taken as the mean values of x and y by default.

% Example
Assuming the Bedford Level Experiment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_Level_experiment) was a fluke, The Earth should curve down about 8 inches in the first mile. At mile 2, the Earth should curve down about 32 inches. Converting to metric, there should be a drop of 0.2 m at a distance of 1609.3 m and there at a distance of 3218.7 m the drop should be 0.81 m. For distance set x = [0 1609.3 3218.7] and let y be zeros. Set the reference point (xo,yo) = (0,0).

x = [0 1609.3 3218.7];
y = [0 0 0];
earthcurve(x,y,0,0)
ans =
0 0.20 0.81