The plural of geodesic; the shortest paths between two points on a curved surface, or the study of such paths in geometry and physics.
From geodesy + -ics (Greek -ikos, 'relating to'). Became a key term in differential geometry and physics as curved-space concepts developed.
Geodesics aren't just about Earth—Einstein used them to explain gravity, which is actually curved space-time, so the geodesic paths objects follow are determined by gravity's warping of space itself.
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