The area of the spherical triangle with apex at the pole and base,
of length L, along the equator is given by:
A = R*L, for 0 <= L <= 2*Pi*R , where R=the radius of the sphere.
Since this is true for L -> zero, it is evident that in no way does
this figure approach a plane triangle.
Bob Sciamanda sciamanda@edinboro.edu
Dept of Physics
Edinboro Univ of PA http://www.edinboro.edu/~sciamanda/home.html