Name: _______________________________ Date: _____________
Where in the World is Port Washington, New York?
(modified from: http://newyorkscienceteacher.com/sci/files/user-submitted/Where_in_the_World_is_Baldwin_LAB.pdf)
Background Information
Virtually all maps have lines of longitude (also called meridians)
and latitude (also called parallels) expressed on them. Together these sets
of lines create an imaginary grid that can be used to locate any point on
earth.
The meridians of longitude run from north to south on a globe from
pole to pole and are measured in degrees. Each degree is divided into 60
parts called minutes. Each minute is divided into 60 seconds of longitude. If
you were to cut along the meridians of an orange you would be cutting
wedges. 0 degrees longitude is called the prime meridian and is the
longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England. The rest of the
meridians run 180 degrees to the east and 180 degrees to the west of the
prime meridian. The International Date Line roughly follows the 180
degree longitude line. All longitude lines converge at the poles.
For example, Port Washington has a longitude of about 73 degrees west,
which means, if you headed west from Greenwich you would reach the same
longitude as Port Washington once you had come to your 73rd line of
longitude.
The latitude lines, or parallels, run around a globe from east to west. They are also
measured in degrees, which in turn are divided into minutes, which in turn are divided
into seconds. The parallel that lies at 0 degrees of latitude is called the equator. The
latitudes of the northern hemisphere range from 0 degrees-90 degrees North (North
Pole) and the latitudes of the Southern hemisphere range from 0 degrees – 90 degrees
south (South Pole). If you were to cut along the parallels of an orange you would be
cutting disks. Latitude lines are called parallels since they never touch. For example,
Port Washington has latitude of about 40 degrees 49 minutes 44 seconds, which
means, if you headed north from the equator you would reach the same latitude as Port
Washington once you had come to about the 40th line of latitude.
The North Star or Polaris is very distant from Earth and located in a position very near
Earth's north celestial pole. Because Polaris is located at the Earth’s Zenith, observers
in the Northern Hemisphere can tell their latitude by measuring the altitude of Polaris.
Information on latitude and longitude is typically written something like this (these
are Port Washington’s NY map coordinates): 40° 49′ 44″ N, 73° 41′ 12″ W The
latitude comes first 40° 49′ 44″ N, and in this particular case lies 40 degrees and 49
minutes north of the equator. The longitude comes second (73° 41′ 12″ W) and in this
case lies 73 degrees and 41 minutes west of the prime meridian. The seconds’ value for
your house will vary depending on your location.
Introduction to Latitude and Longitude
1. The lines running north-south represent degrees of ____________________.
They are measured from the Prime Meridian in a
________________and______________ direction. These lines are known also
as____________________. They ___________ at the poles.
2. The lines running east-west represent degrees of ____________. They are
measured from the equator in a(n) _________________and
____________________ direction. These lines are known also as
____________________.
3. The geographic grid used on the globe is based on the division of a circle in
____________________ degrees. Each degree is divided into
____________________ equal parts called minutes, and each minute into
____________________equal parts called ____________________.
4. Latitude is numbered from ____________________ degrees at the equator to
____________________degrees at either pole.
5. Longitude is numbered from ____________________ degrees at the prime
meridian to ____________________ degrees at the International Date Line.
6. An observer in the Northern Hemisphere’s latitude equals the altitude of
______________________.
Using Latitude and Longitude to Locate Points on Earth
You may share a globe and work with a partner.
1. What are the coordinates of point A?_____________ Altitude of Polaris? _______
2. Locate the same coordinates on the globe. In what country is point A located?
3. What are the coordinates of point B?_________________ Altitude of Polaris? ______
4. Locate the same coordinates on the globe. In which country is point B located?
5. Locate a point at 10 ° S and 45 ° W on the grid. Mark it CB.
6. Locate a point at 20 ° N and 75 ° E on the grid. Mark it D.
7. Mark the location of Port Washington NY on the grid using the letters PW. How high above
the horizon do we look to find Polaris? ____________________
8. Examine the globe and locate the direction of Earth’s rotation.
The Earth rotates from ________________ to _______________
9. Using a string and ruler, measure each of the following distances in cm, and convert to km
using the scale on the globe.
A. between latitude lines.
__________ cm
_______________ km
B. between longitude lines at the equator.
__________ cm
_______________ km
C. between longitude lines at the Arctic Circle.
__________ cm
_______________ km
D. What have you observed?
E. Compare and Contrast Latitude and Longitude lines.
Name_____________________________________________________DATE____
Latitude and Longitude on the NY State Map
1. New York is ______________of the Equator and __________________
of the Prime Meridian, therefore NY latitude is always _____________ and
NY Longitude is always ________________.
2. How many minutes are between 76
degrees and 77 degrees? _________
Name the longitude line in between 76 and 77
degrees. ________degrees
_________minutes West
What is the longitude of Ithaca to the nearest
minute? ______________
Complete the following on the NY state map provided in this packet. Hmmm…
where have we seen this map before? __________
1. Locate the 44 degree latitude marker in Lake Ontario, and in Lake
Champlain. Using a red colored pencil, connect the two points with a straight
edge. Continue this procedure to draw all of the latitude lines.
2. Locate the 79 degree longitude markers in Lake Ontario and near
Jamestown. Using a red colored pencil, connect the two points with a
straight edge. Continue this procedure to draw all of the longitude lines.
3. Locate the 30 minute marks between the lines of latitude. Draw them in with
a yellow colored pencil and a straight edge
4. Locate the 30 minute marks between the lines of longitude. Draw them in
with a yellow colored pencil and a straight edge.
5. Draw a blue star on Port Washington.
Using your ESRT write the latitude and longitude to the nearest minute for each of the cities listed below.
Use your ESRT for the following questions:
1. Using a ruler, measure and record how many centimeters are between
Jamestown and Elmira.
2. Using the scale on the right hand side of the map and value you calculate
from above, what is the real distance between the two cities?
3. What large city’s latitude is similar to that of Syracuse?
4. What is this city’s latitude and longitude?
5. What is the altitude of Polaris for each of the cities listed above? List them
here:
Using the Map provided, answer the following questions and mark the locations.
1. Draw a red line along the equator (0 degrees latitude).
2. Draw a purple line along the Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude). Draw a blue line to show the
180 degree longitude line.
3. Indicate WEST by shading with a light yellow pencil from the prime meridian to the 180 degree
line.
4. Indicate EAST by shading with a light green pencil from the prime meridian to the 180 degree
line.
3. In which ocean is the location 10 degrees S latitude, 75 degrees E longitude located?
________________________Mark it on the map with a blue "X”.
4. In which ocean is the location 30 degrees N latitude, 60 degrees W longitude located?
________________________ Mark it on the map with a blue "Y".
5. Mark the following cities with a red dot and the code provided.
B. Beijing: 40°N, 116°E
C. Cairo: 30°N, 31°E
CT. Cape Town: 34°S, 18°E
H. Hong Kong: 22°N, 114°E
J. Jakarta: 6°S, 106°E
LA. Los Angeles: 34°N, 118°W
LI. Lima: 12°S, 77°W
LO. London: 51°N, 0°W
MC. Mexico City: 19°N, 99°W
MO. Moscow: 55°N, 37°E
MU. Mumbai: 19°N, 72°E
NA. Nairobi: 1°S, 37°E
NO. New Orleans: 30°N, 90°W