ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rhumb line

Okay kiddo, have you ever played connect-the-dots? You connect each dot with a straight line, right? Well, imagine if you had to connect the dots while turning a little bit each time. That's what a rhumb line is.

When people travel on the ocean, they use maps to show them where to go. They might want to go from one place to another, but they can't just go in a straight line like they would on land. They have to follow the curves of the Earth.

So, a rhumb line is a line on a map that shows the path someone would take if they turned a certain amount each time they moved forward. It kind of looks like a spiral if you drew it out. This helps people figure out the best way to get where they want to go when they're on the ocean.

Think of it like following a path in a maze, but turning a little bit each time so you can get to the end. The rhumb line shows which direction to turn in and how much to turn, so you can get to your destination without getting lost.