Name: _____________________________________________________ Pd.: ________ Date: ______________________
Latitude and Longitude Practice
Introduction
A circle such as around the globe is 360 degrees (°). Each degree may be further divided into 60 minutes (') and each
minute into 60 seconds ("). A grid system or graticule is formed in this manner using a base of two perpendicular circles.
Latitude measures the number of degrees north or south of the equator which has a latitude of 0°. Lines of latitude
(parallels) run east-west around the globe and are used to measure distances NORTH and SOUTH of the equator.
Since the equator is 0°, the latitude of the north pole, 1/4 of the way around the globe going in a northerly direction,
would be 90°N. This is the highest latitude possible. All latitudes except for the equator must be designated either north
or south of the equator. The longitude coordinate is also needed, then, to designate one particular point on the earth's
surface. Longitude measures the number of degrees EAST or WEST of the Prime Meridian which runs through
Greenwich, England. The Prime Meridian has a longitude of 0°. Lines of longitude (meridians) running north-south around
the globe measure distances EAST and WEST of the Prime Meridian. Directly on the opposite side of the earth from
the prime meridian is located the 180° meridian. This is the highest longitude possible. All other longitudes must be
designated either east or west of the Prime Meridian. All meridians converge at the poles so exactly at the poles no
longitude is given; the longitude of the poles is left blank. It is required that latitude be given before longitude (generally
preferred in non-computer applications). Lines of latitude and longitude represent true geographic east-west and northsouth directions despite the fact that on some maps the grid lines may be curved due to the problems of projecting the
spherical surface of the earth onto the flat surface of a map. When giving the latitude and longitude coordinates, be sure
to identify if the location is north or south, east or west of the base or reference lines!! At these lines, no direction can be
given, so do not put a letter after the degree sign.
Fill in the blanks below.
1. There are _____ seconds in a minute, _____ minutes in a degree, and _____degrees in a circle.
2. Latitude measures distance _____ and _____ of the _____.
3. Longitude measures distance _____ and _____ of the ______________ which runs through __________.
4. Latitude measures as high as _____ which represents the ________ and longitude measures as high as _____.
5. At the poles, all lines of longitude (meridians) __________.
6. The coordinates of the north pole are _____ and of the south pole are _____.
Look at the points on the map above and identify their location by latitude and longitude to the nearest 15° (All answers
must be multiples of 15°.) Do not forget to state the direction, if necessary. Leave a blank if no information is needed.
A.
E.
H.
B.
F.
I.
C.
G.
J.
D.
Additional Summary:
The directions _____ or _____ must always be given with latitude EXCEPT for 0 degrees which is the _____. The
directions _____ or _____ must always be given with longitude EXCEPT for 0 degrees and 180 degrees which is the
_____ and _____ on the opposite side of the earth. Latitude can NEVER be over _____ degrees and longitude can NEVER
be over _____ degrees . All points on the earth's surface must be identified by both coordinates EXCEPT for ___ degrees
north which is the _____ and ____ degrees south which is _____.
Latitude and Longitude Review:
Map A
Map B
Identify whether the statements below are true or false.
1.
The lines on Map A would be parallels
rather than meridians.
2.
The lines on Map A would be used to
measure longitude rather than latitude.
3. The lines on Map B would be parallels
rather than meridians.
4. The lines on Map B would be used to
measure longitude rather than latitude.
5. Latitude measures north or south of the
equator.
6. Longitude measures east or west of the
prime meridian.
12. Latitude must be described as N or S
unless it is the equator.
13. The base line for longitude runs from
north to south through England.
14. The base line for longitude is the
international date line.
15. The Greenwich Meridian has a
longitude of 0°.
16. The highest possible latitude is 180°.
17. The highest possible longitude is 180°.
7. Parallels are used to measure
longitude.
18. Longitude must be describes as E or W
unless it is the Prime Meridian or the
International Date Line.
8. Latitude is measured by using parallels.
19. The North Pole has no latitude.
9. The equator is a parallel.
20. The South Pole has no longitude.
10. The equator is the base line for
longitude.
22. Up and north mean the same things.
11. The latitude of the equator is 0°.
TIME
Time is based upon the rotation of the earth. The earth turns once on it's axis in 24 hours. This rotation is a
full 360°. So, in one hour, the earth turns 15°. Every four minutes, the earth has turned one degree. In one minute
of time, the earth has turned 15 minutes of arc. So, every four seconds of time, the earth rotates one minute of
arc.
Each of the infinite meridians has a different time as its position relative to the sun changes during the
rotation. When the sun passes directly over a meridian is noon. Here, in this simple treatment of time, we will not
deal with the equation of time or the effect of the earth's revolution and the shape of the orbit. It is impractical,
though, for all longitudes to have their own time, so time zones which share the time of a central meridian were
devised. In this exercise, we will also not deal with the political and cultural adjustments to the boundaries of these
zones. Each time zone is 15° wide, with the Central Meridian being a multiple of 15°. This is located in the center
of the belt which shares that time, so the time zones extend 7 ½° on either side of the central meridian. Since the
earth rotates 15° in one hour, each time zone shares the same hour.
The Prime Meridian or Greenwich time is used as a base. Since the earth rotates in a counterclockwise direction
when viewed so that the north pole is visible, the sun rises first in the east and sets in the west. Thus, noon
reaches the Prime Meridian before it reaches the United States. Thus, places to the east have a later time than
places to the west. At 30°W, the time would be two hours earlier than at the Prime Meridian. At 30°E, the time
would be two hours later than at the Prime Meridian.
The new date first begins when midnight reaches 180° or the International Dateline. As midnight moves
around the globe, the old day is disappearing at 180°. Except right at midnight at 180°, two dates always exist at
any one moment.
Use the following map to show the important features for time.
1. Draw a red line on the International Dateline.
2. Draw a yellow arrow to show in which direction the time is earlier in the day. Label it EARLIER.
3. Draw a purple arrow to show in which direction the time is later in the day. Label it LATER.
4. Use a pencil and a ruler to draw the generalized borders for each of the time zones.
5. Using this map, determine the time and day for each time zone if it is 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Greenwich,
England.
(Note the typographical error in the text on page 25 where a division sign should have been inserted rather than a plus sign, 360 divided by 24 = 15 degrees per hour.)
Answer Keys
Answers to pages 1 & 2: 1. 60°, 60°, 360°; 2. north, south, equator; 3. east, west, prime meridian, Greenwich,
England; 4. 90°, poles, 180°; 5. converge; 6. 90°N, 90°S; A 75°N, 90°W; B 60°N, 120°W; C 60°N, 60°E; D 15°N,
45°W; E 0°, 150°W; F 60°S,120°W; G 30°S, 0°; H 15°S, 75°E; I 45°S, 150°E; J 30°N, 180°. NOTE: A through J
must match EXACTLY to be correct!; north, south, 0°, equator. east, west, 0°, prime meridian, 180°. 90°, 180°.
90°, N, north pole, 90°, S, south pole.
Answers to page 3: 1. T; 2. F; 3. F; 4. T; 5. T; 6. T; 7. F; 8. T; 9. T; 10. F; 11. T; 12. T; 13. T; 14. F; 15. T; 16.
F; 17. T; 18. T; 19. F; 20. T; 21. T; 22. F; 23. F; 24. T; 25. T; 26. T; 27. F; 28. F; 29. T; 30. T.
Earlier
4am
3am
2am
1am
Midnight
11pm
10pm
9pm
8pm
7pm
6pm
5pm
4pm
3pn
2pm
1pm
Noon
11am
10am
9am
8am
7an
6am
5am
4am
Answers to page 4:
Later