Final answer:
The traffic patterns in the segmented circle are arranged to protect civilian populations from being targeted by enemy aircraft. The flight paths of commercial airliners are carefully regulated to maintain a safe distance from other planes. Airplanes follow the arc of a great circle when flying between two points on the Earth's surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The traffic patterns indicated in the segmented circle have been arranged to avoid flights over an area to protect civilian populations from being targeted by enemy aircraft. These patterns are designed to ensure that aircraft fly in specific directions and altitudes, maintaining a safe distance from each other.
For example, the Federal Aviation Administration regulates the flight paths of commercial airliners, requiring them to maintain a distance of five miles from other planes at the same altitude and 2,000 feet above and below another aircraft. This ensures that each aircraft has certain allowed positions while flying.
Additionally, when flying from one point to another, an airplane cannot simply take a straight line due to the Earth's curved surface. The shortest distance is the arc of a great circle, which is the path an airplane follows along the Earth's surface.