All circles of longitude are the same length, and are not parallel like lines of latitude; they converge as they near the poles . ... The time difference can be used to calculate longitude. This is because the Earth takes 24 hours for a complete 360 o rotation.
Why latitudes are parallel to each other?
Circles of latitude are often called parallels because they are parallel to each other; that is, planes that contain any of these circles never intersect each other . ... The latitude of the circle is approximately the angle between the Equator and the circle, with the angle's vertex at Earth's centre.
Why are latitudes parallel to each other but longitudes are not?
The lines of longitudes are not parallel to each other because they come closer to each other as they approach the North and the South pole . At the poles, the meridians of longitudes meet each other.
Are latitudes and longitudes parallel?
The lines running North to South are called “Meridians” or “lines of longitude” (Figure 2), while the lines running East to West are called “ Parallels ” or “lines of latitude” (Figure 3). ... Note that the lines are parallel when we look at the earth from the equator.
Why do latitudes do not meet each other?
Two latitudes never meet at any point because they are parallel to each other .
Which is the largest parallel on the globe?
The largest parallel is at the equator , and the parallels decrease in size towards the poles. Except for positions located right on the equator (0°), parallels of latitude are described by the number of degrees that they are north (N) or south (S) of the equator.
Which is the longest longitude?
Answer: The longest is the equator , whose latitude is zero, while at the poles, at latitudes 90° north and 90° south (or –90°), the circles shrink to a point. Both longitudes or meridians, interconnecting the north pole and the south pole, are equivalent lines of similar length.
Are latitude lines straight?
But contrary to longitude lines for example, which are straight lines (great circles) and do converge at the poles, latitude lines are a different kind of line: small circles, meaning they aren't actually straight (great circle) lines (except the Equator).
Why are latitude lines not straight?
In a map the curve of the earth is represented on a flat surface. ... In reality the earth is curved so the longitude lines must also curve . this is way the longitude lines can not be straight. All of the longitude lines curve together at the points of the north and south poles.
Why do longitude lines intersect?
The grid of intersecting lines on a globe enables us to identify every location on earth with a set of numbers or letters The ancient Babylonians divided any circle or sphere into 360 degrees . The symbol for degree is °.
What is the Globe Class 6?
A globe is a spherical figure which is a miniature form of earth . It gives us a three-dimensional view of the whole Earth by showing distances, directions, areas, etc. ... The globe provides 3-D (three-dimensional view) of the entire Earth. The latitudes and longitudes are shown on the globe as circles or semi-circles.
Why there are 180 latitudes and 360 longitudes?
Latitude lines are comprehensive circles, with the middle at 0° and the pole at 90°. The South Pole and the North Pole have separated by 180° apart, The longitude lines cross from the North Pole to the South Pole . ... This is why it begins at zero and finishes at 360 longitudes.
What are latitudes Class 6?
Latitudes are imaginary lines that run from west to east , ranging from zero to 90 degrees. Another imaginary line on the globe that divides it into two equal parts at zero degree latitude is called the equator. The equator divides the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
Why do the lines of latitude decreases when moving towards the Pole?
These lines are called parallels of latitude because they run parallel to each other. ... The length of latitude slowly decreases towards the poles due to the rotation of the earth because as the earth rotates a centrifugal force is generated which causes change in its shape that makes it oblate spheroid.
How many latitudes are there in total?
Lines of latitude are called parallels and in total there are 180 degrees of latitude. The distance between each degree of latitude is about 69 miles (110 kilometers).
How many longitudes are there in total?
To measure longitude east or west of the Prime Meridian, there are 180 vertical longitude lines east of the Prime Meridian and 180 vertical longitude lines west of the Prime Meridian, so longitude locations are given as __ degrees east or __ degrees west.
