SHREE VIDYA GROUP TUITIONS

9TH ICSE 2. LATITUDES AND LONGIDUTES GEOGRAPHY

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. What are lines of latitude and longitude?

The lines running east to west, parallel to the equator, are called lines of latitude.
The lines running north to south passing through the poles are called lines of
longitude.

2. What is a geographic grid?

The intersection or network of the latitudes and the longitudes forms a framework
known as a geographical grid.

3. Who devised the lines of latitude and longitude?

Eratosthenes, the Greek philosopher, first time devised the lines of latitude and
longitude.

4. How does latitudes and longitudes help in locating position on a globe or

map?
Latitudes and longitudes intersect each other at right angles and create a network
called a grid.
The point at which they meet or cross each other, helps in locating the position on a
globe or map.

5. Name the two hemispheres of the earth made by the Equator.

Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere.

6. Name the four hemispheres of Earth.

The four hemispheres of Earth are: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western.

7. Express 1° angular distance in kilometres.

As the circumference or the equator is nearly about 40,000 km.
∴ 1° angular distance in km. will be 40,000/360 =111 km. approximately.

8. Name the thermal zones of the earth.

The thermal zones of the earth are Tropical, Temperate and Polar zones.

9. Which temperature zone receives almost vertical rays of the sun and which
zones receive slanting rays?
The Tropical zone gets vertical rays of the sun, while temperate and polar zones
receive slanting rays of the sun.
10. Which line is known as the Prime Meridian? State its importance.
The Prime Meridian is the line of longitude whose angular distance is defined as 0°.
It passes through Greenwich near London. It is the basic Meridian and time is
calculated with respect to this Meridian.

11. How many longitudes are there in 1 time zone?

There are 15 longitudes in 1 time zone.
12. What is local time? Why is it called Sun time?
The local time of any place is determined by the overhead sun at noon.
Since it is determined by sun’s position in the sky i.e., shadow cast by the sun it is
called sun time.

13. Which line of longitude is used to fix the World Standard Time? State its value
in degrees.
Greenwich Meridian is used to fix the World Standard Time. Its value in degrees is
0°.

14. State the longitudinal value in degrees of Indian Standard Meridian.

Longitudinal value of Indian Standard Meridian is 82 1/2° E. It passes through
Mirzapur near Allahabad.

15. Name two places where it goes zig-zag.

Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

16. A ship crossing international dateline at mid-night on Wednesday Eastwards,

finds that it is mid-night Tuesday on the American side. Why?
When crossing the international dateline from West to East a day is deducted or the
time is fixed backward by one day.
So, when it is Wednesday midnight on the Asiatic side, it is Tuesday midnight on the
American side.

17. What is meant by ‘Oblate Spheroid’?

As the Earth spins on its axis, the centrifugal force causes the Earth to bulge at the
equator and compression at poles. This shape is Oblate spheroid.

18. What are great circles and small circles?

A great circle is a circle drawn on the surface of a sphere (earth) that has a radius
equal to the radius of the sphere and whose centre is also the sphere’s centre.
Circles which do not pass through the centre of the earth are the small circles.

19. Name a latitude that is a great circle.

Equator is the only line of latitude that is a great circle.

20. Define Equator. What is its main function?

Equator is the parallel of 0° latitude. passes through the centre of the earth and
divides it into two equal parts forming a great circle. It serves as reference line for
calculating distance of a place on the earth.

GIVE REASONS:

1. Geographic grid helps us to get the exact location of a place on the Earth.
Latitudes and longitudes intersect each other at right angles and create a network
called a grid.
The point at which they meet or cross each other, helps in locating the position on a
globe or map.

2. Lines of latitude are called parallels of latitude.

Since the lines of latitude are parallel to the equator and each other they are called
parallels of latitude.

3. Lines of latitude are not of equal length.

The lines of latitude are not of equal length because of the centrifugal force of earth
which make it bulge at equator and compresses at the poles. So, the lines of latitude
become smaller as we move towards the poles.

4. Lines of latitude carve out the heat zones of the earth.

This is because temperature varies with latitudes due to the spherical shape of the
Earth and due to its rotation and revolution on the tilted axis, the angle of incidence
of sun rays varies with latitudes so the amount of heat received is different at
different latitudes.

5. The area on the Earth’s surface within the two tropics is the torrid zone.
This is because the area between the two tropics experience maximum high angle of
incidence of sun rays as the apparent migration of the sun is restricted within the
two tropics.

6. There is no higher latitude than 90° north and 90° south.

The axis of the Earth and the equatorial plane intersect each other at right angle.
The reference line for calculation of latitude is the equator which is 0° latitude so
the maximum possible latitudinal value would be 90° in both the hemispheres.

7. Lines of longitude are also called Meridians of longitude.

The sun crosses a meridian at noon. It means when the sun’s rays are exactly
vertical over a particular longitude, all the places on that longitude will have noon at
the same time.

8. The Greenwich time is called Greenwich Mean Time.

The Greenwich time is called Greenwich Mean Time because the time is calculated
based on the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.
9. Latitudes and longitudes are expressed in angles.
Earth is a sphere and latitudes and longitudes are angular distance measured with
reference to the equator and prime meridian respectively. To avoid confusion a
uniform unit is adopted by all countries.

10. Lines of longitude are of same length.

All meridians of longitude converge at the poles and are thus of equal length.

11. We can draw 360 lines of longitude at an interval of 1° on a globe.

This is because the semi circles that is lines of longitude joining the two poles
intersect the equator at right angle. We all know that the circle has 360°.

12. Local time differs from place to place.

Local time of any place is obtained by the overhead sun at noon.
It differs from place to place due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis from west to
east. For every 1° longitudinal variation, local time varies by 4 minutes.

13. Standard time is considered necessary.

For every 1° longitudinal variation, local time varies by 4 minutes. The countries
with great longitudinal extent, experience different local time which may cause
confusion. To avoid this, a uniform time is accepted by the whole country based on
the standard meridian of the country.

14. The local time is a theoretical reality while standard time is a practical
necessity.
Local time of any place is obtained by the overhead sun at noon and thus it varies
from place to place creating confusion. Therefore, it is only a theoretical reality.
Standard time is uniform time based on a central meridian set by the country or a
region.
It brings uniformity of time and thus is a practical necessity.

15. An elephant in the congo basin of Africa has to walk 111kms to cross one
longitude where as a polar bear has to skip to cross one longitude. Give
reason.
The congo basin is situated near the Equator and so the distance between two lines
of longitude is maximum at the equator 111 kms and the distance gradually
decreases as one moves towards the poles.
Hence an elephant in the congo basin of Africa has to walk 111kms to cross one
longitude where as a polar bear has to skip to cross one longitude.

16. Each degree of longitude to the east-west of London is several kilometers

shorter than each degree east and west of Colombo.
London is situated at higher latitude whereas Colombo is situated near Equator.
Due to the spherical shape of the Earth and the fact that all lines of longitudes
converge at the poles, the distance between each degree of longitude to the east-
 west of London is several kilometers shorter than each degree east and West of
Colombo.

17. Diametrically opposite lines of longitude and the Equator are called Great
Circles. OR
The two opposite meridians of longitude form Great Circles.
This is because their centres coincide with the centre of the sphere of the earth and
divides the earth into two equal halves.

18. 180° longitude is chosen as International Date Line although all longitudes
are identical.
Since, 180° longitude is diametrically opposite to the Prime Meridian it is chosen as
International Date Line.

19. IDL deviates and goes zig-zag near some Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Give
reason. OR
The International Date Line does not follow the 180° meridian exactly.
The International Date Line deviates and goes zigzag in the mid-pacific region to
avoid passing through some countries and certain island nations like Fiji, Tonga etc.,
thus preventing the confusion of day and date there.

20. A person gains time as he travels towards the east.

This is because Sun rises in the East.

21. Among the parallels, the equator is only great circle.

Equator passes through the centre of the earth and divides it into two equal parts
forming a great circle. All other parallels do not pass through the centre of the
earth and are not great circles.

22. The opposite meridians of longitude form a Great Circle.

This is because opposite meridians of longitude pass through the centre of the
earth and divides it into two equal parts.

23. Intersecting great circles always bisect each other.

Intersecting great circles always bisect each other because they pass through the
centre of the earth.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

1. Mention three characteristics of lines of latitude?
1. The lines of latitude are parallel to the equator.
2. The lines of latitude are drawn at an angular distance with respect to the
equator.
3. Each parallel of latitude is a full circle and the Equator is a Great Circle.
2. State three uses of latitudes.
1. Latitudes give us the location of a place north or south of the Equator.
2. Lines of latitude divide the earth into distinct heat belts.
3. It helps to measure the distance of any place from the Equator based on its degree
of latitude.

4. State two properties of lines of longitude.

1. The distance between two consecutive longitude is maximum at equator (111km)
and decreases gradually towards the poles.
2. All lines of longitude are semicircles of equal length.

5. With the help of degrees, name five important lines of latitude. What is their
significance?
1) Equator – (0°) It is the longest line of latitude.
2) The North Pole (90° N) is located at an angular distance of 90° north of the
Equator.
3) The South Pole (90° S) is located at an angular distance of 90° south of the
Equator.
4) The Tropic of Cancer (23 1⁄2° N) is a line of latitude located (23 1⁄2 °N) north of
the Equator.
5) The Arctic Circle (66 1⁄2° N) marks the limit of the north polar region around
the North Pole.

6. How can the general climate of an area be described with the help of the lines of
latitudes?
1) The temperature decreases northwards and southwards from the equator. The
region within 23 1/2° N and 23 1/2° S will get tropical climate with ample
temperature and rainfall.
2) The regions between 23 1/2° N – 66 1/2° N and 23 1/2° S – 66 1/2° S , the
temperate zone will get moderate climate neither too hot nor too cold.
3) Between the Arctic circle and North pole and Antarctic circle and south pole, the
sun’s rays are slanting and very low temperatures are recorded. So, the climate is
very cold in this region.

7. Describe the lines of longitude and state their use in relation to distance and
time.
1) A longitude is the angular distance of a place east or west of the Prime Meridian or
0° longitude.
2) The earth takes 4 minutes to move 1 ° longitude or 111 km length.
3) There is difference of time of one hour between 15° interval of longitudes.
4) According to the clock-time, EGA stands for East-Gain-Add and WLS means West
Lose Subtract.
5) It means for each 1ᵒ longitude towards east 4 minutes are to be added and towards
west, 4 minutes are to be subtracted.

8. Make a detailed study of finding time with the help of longitudes. Give one
practical example.
1. Indian Standard Time is based on 82 1/2° E longitude.
2. While fixing the Indian Standard Time with respect to the, Greenwich Mean Time, we
have to add 82°30'x 4 min. = 330 min or 51⁄2 hrs.
3. This means that India is 51⁄2 hrs. ahead of GMT. [EAST GAIN ADD]
4. E.g., if it is 9 AM at London it must be 9 + 5:30 i.e. 2:30 PM in India.

9. What is meant by IDL? State its importance.

1) IDL means the International Date Line, which is along 180° E & W.
2) The time difference works out to 12 hours (180° x 4 min) from either side.
3) Thus, on crossing the line, a day is gained or lost.
4) When crossing from the west, time will be 12 hours behind.
5) while crossing from the east time will be 12 hours ahead.

10. Give two uses of Great circle.

1) Navigators use great circles to find the shortest distance between any two points on
the earth's surface.
2) Great circles are used by meteorologists to determine climate and weather
conditions in a region.

11. An aircraft is to travel between two distant places on the opposite side of the
globe. Why should it travel along the great circle passing through the two places?
This is because Great circle routes are the shortest distance between two places on
the earth and lies on the arc of a great circle.
12. Distinguish between lines of latitude and longitude.
lines of latitude lines of longitude
Latitude is the angular distance of a Longitude is the angular distance of a
place north or south of the equator. place east or west of the Prime
Meridian.
All latitudes are parallel to the equator All meridians of longitude converge at
and each other. the poles.
There are 181 parallels of latitude at 1° There are 360 lines of longitude at 1°
interval. interval.
 Each parallel of latitude is a full circle. All lines of longitude are semicircles
They are not of equal length. and of equal length.

13. Distinguish between Local time and Standard time.

Local time Standard time
The local time of any place is The uniform time based on a central
determined by the overhead sun at meridian set by the country or a region
noon. is known as Standard time.
Changes continuously with the change Remains same for a particular country.
in longitude.
Places on the same longitude have same Places on the same longitude have
local time. different standard time.

14. With the help of a diagram show the important lines of latitude and different
heat zones of the world.