(a) What is a latitude? (b) State any three similarities between lines of longitudes and latitudes (c) Outline any five ways in which lines of longitudes di...
Question 1 Report
(a) What is a latitude?
(b) State any three similarities between lines of longitudes and latitudes
(c) Outline any five ways in which lines of longitudes differ from lines of latitudes
Answer Details
(a) What is a latitude? A latitude is an imaginary line drawn on the globe running from east to west, parallel to the Equator, measuring angular distance north or south of the Equator in degrees (0° at the Equator to 90° at the poles).
(b) Similarities between lines of longitude and latitude:
- Both are imaginary lines drawn on the surface of the earth (they do not exist physically).
- Both are measured in degrees (angular distance from a reference line).
- Both are used together to fix or locate the position of places on the earth's surface.
(c) Ways in which lines of longitude differ from lines of latitude:
| Lines of Longitude | Lines of Latitude |
|---|---|
| Run from north to south (pole to pole) | Run from east to west, parallel to the Equator |
| Measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian | Measure distance north or south of the Equator |
| All are of equal length (all are great circles) | Vary in length; only the Equator is a great circle, others get shorter towards the poles |
| Meet/converge at the poles | Are parallel and never meet |
| Range from 0° to 180° east and west | Range from 0° to 90° north and south |
(Another difference: longitude is used to determine time/time zones, while latitude is used to determine climatic zones.)
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