Highlight the similarities and differences between latitudes and longitude
Question 1 Report
Highlight the similarities and differences between latitudes and longitude
Answer Details
Similarities and differences between latitude and longitude
Similarities
- Both are imaginary lines drawn on the globe or map to help locate places.
- Both are measured in degrees (°), minutes and seconds, using the centre of the Earth as reference.
- Both form part of the grid system; a place is fixed precisely by giving its latitude and longitude together.
- Both have a reference (0°) line: the Equator for latitude and the Greenwich (Prime) Meridian for longitude.
Differences
| Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|
| Lines run east to west (drawn horizontally), measuring distance north or south of the Equator. | Lines run north to south from pole to pole (drawn vertically), measuring distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. |
| They are parallel to one another and never meet; hence called parallels. | They are not parallel; they converge and meet at the two Poles. |
| They are of unequal length; the Equator is the longest and lines shorten toward the Poles. | They are all of equal length, each being a full semicircle from pole to pole. |
| Range from 0° to 90° N and 0° to 90° S (91 lines each way). | Range from 0° to 180° E and 0° to 180° W. |
| Reference line is the Equator (0°). | Reference line is the Greenwich Meridian (0°). |
| Used mainly to determine climatic/temperature zones and distance north-south. | Used mainly to determine time and longitudinal difference (\(15°\) of longitude = 1 hour). |
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