Meridians of Longitude
1. Definition of Longitude: Longitude is the east-west position of a point on the Earth’s surface. It is measured in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line that passes through Greenwich, England.
2. Meridians of Longitude: Meridians of longitude are the imaginary north-south lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. They are used to measure the position of a location east or west of the Prime Meridian.
3. Prime Meridian: The Prime Meridian is the line of longitude that passes through Greenwich, England, and is used as the starting point for measuring longitude.
4. International Date Line: The International Date Line is an imaginary line in the Pacific Ocean that marks where the date changes by one day. It is roughly opposite the Prime Meridian.
Drawing the Meridians of Longitude
To draw lines of longitude, start by drawing a circle representing the Earth’s surface with its center indicating the North Pole. The circumference of the circle corresponds to the equator. Draw a vertical line through the center of the circle, intersecting the North Pole. This line represents the 0° and 180° meridians, which converge at the North Pole, as illustrated in Figure 3.4.
When observing a map, typically, east is on the right and west is on the left. However, to draw longitudes, imagine yourself at the North Pole, positioned at the center of the circle depicted in Figure 3.4. From this perspective, the directions of east and west would be reversed, with east to your left and west to your right.
To draw a specific longitude, such as 45° E and W, envision yourself at the North Pole, and place your protractor along the vertical line, aligning it with the 0° and 180° meridians. Then, measure 45° on both sides of the vertical line, denoting 45° E meridian to your left and 45° W meridian to your right, as shown in Figure 3.5.
This diagram represents the Earth’s appearance when viewed directly from above the North Pole.
Latitude, Longitude and Time| Class 11 Geography Practical Work
The geographic coordinate system, consisting of latitude and longitude, is essential for locating and identifying positions on the Earth’s surface. This system, along with the concept of time zones, allows for the standardization of time and the organization of global activities.
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