Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone!! This article will share Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers.

In my previous post, I have shared Objective Type Questions & Answers of Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes so, make sure to check that post as well.

Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers

Question 1: Define the following:

(a) Great circle 

Answer: Any two opposite longitudes when joined together form a great circle. This marks the shortest distance between two places.

(b) Local time 

Answer: All places located on the same meridian have noon at the same time. This is the local time for that meridian.

(c) AM and PM

Answer: Am stands for ante-meridian meaning before noon. PM stand for post meridian meaning afternoon.

(d) IST

Answer: – Indian Standard Time is the time accepted as the standard time for entire country. India is located to the east of Greenwich so the IST is five and a half hours ahead of GMT.

(e) International Date Line (IDL)

Answer:  It is the imaginary line which roughly passes the 180° longitude through the middle of Pacific Ocean. We add a day if we cross from west to east and subtract if we cross east to west.

(f) Relative location 

Answer:  Locating any place on Earth’s surface in relation to another place or nearby landmark is called the relative location. For example – Rita’s house is to the west of Evergreen Gardens.

(g) Absolute location

Answer:  When a recognized coordinate system formed by latitudes and longitudes is used to locate a place, it is called absolute location of a place. For example – Dhaka is located on 23°42’ North latitude and 90°24’ East Longitude.

Question 2: Name the longest latitude. State any two characteristics of Parallels of Latitude.

Answer: The equator is the longest latitude. The characteristics of Lines of Latitude are:

i. Latitudes run in an east-west direction.
ii. Latitudes are equidistant from one another or in simple words; they are parallel to one another. Thus, these lines are often called parallels of latitude.

Question 3: On what basis, the Earth is divided into heat zones? Name the zones as well.

Answer:  The Earth is divided into three heat zones called temperate zones on the basis of the distance from the equator and the amount of heat received from the Sun. The three heat zones are:
i. The torrid zone
ii. The temperate zone
iii. The frigid zone

Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers

Question 4: Why is the Torrid Zone the hottest zone on the earth?

Answer: Due to the tilted axis of the earth, sunrays fall vertically between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn throughout the year. This region receives maximum heat and thus is the hottest zone on the earth. This zone is also known as the Tropical Zone.

Question 5: Why International Date Line is a zig-zag line?

Answer: International Date Line avoids dividing nations and islands into two different days. Thus, it runs zig-zag.

Question 6: What is the geographic grid?

Answer: The horizontal lines of latitude run in an East-West direction and similarly vertical lines of longitude run in a North-South direction. Both these lines form a network called the grid.

Question 7: Why Indian Standard Time is five and half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time?

Answer: India is located to the East of Greenwich and so the IST time is five and half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Question 8: State the significance of Great Circle.

Answer: The Prime Meridian and 180th Meridian forms a Great Circle that divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Question 9: There is a need for Standard Time. Give reason.

Answer: Each country has several meridians passing through it. If places on each meridian were to follow their own local time, it would be difficult to prepare a common railway or airline time table. To avoid such confusion, each country follows a standard time. This standard time is the time of the central meridian passing through that country.

Question 10: Why are the lines of latitude also known as Parallels of Latitude?

Answer: Latitudes are equidistant from one another or in simple words; they are parallel to one another. Thus, these lines are often called parallels of latitude.

Question 11: The sunrise at London is much before the sunrise in New York. Give reason.

Answer: Since our earth rotates from West to East, places on the East of Greenwich are ahead of the Greenwich Time, and those to the West of Greenwich are behind the Greenwich Time. Since, London which is west of New York will experience sunrise much before the sunrise in New York.

Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers

Question 12: The Frigid Zone has a very cold climate. Explain.

Answer: The Frigid Zone lies between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole in the Southern Hemisphere. The Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle receives extreme slanting rays of the sun. Thus, making this region a Frigid Zone and which has a very cold climate.

Question 13: Explain the concept of International Date Line (IDL)?

Answer: The International Date Line is an internationally accepted time change line. This line is drawn approximately along the 180° meridian. It marks the place on the earth where each new date first begins. The International Date Line avoids dividing nations and islands into two different days. Thus, it runs zig-zag. When we cross this line West to East, we gain a day. On the other hand, if we cross this line from East to West, we lose a day. This change is followed by everyone irrespective of the distance actually travelled.

Question 14: Differentiate between the Parallels of latitudes and the Meridians of longitudes.

Answer:

Question 15: With reference to Indian Standard Time, answer the following questions:

(a) Which longitude is considered as the Standard Meridian of India?

Answer: In India, the longitude 82° 30’E is treated as the standard meridian.

(b) It lies to the east or west of GMT?

Answer: It lies to the east of GMT.

(c) What is the time difference between GMT and IST?

Answer: The time difference between GMT and IST is five and a half hours.

Question 16: Solve the following problems:

(a) What will be the local time in Prayagraj (Allahabad) (82½°E), when it is 15:00 hrs in Greenwich (0°)?

Answer: 20:30 hrs

(b) At 14:00 hrs, Neha is having her lunch in Greenwich (0°). Her friend, Sumegha, is in New York (74°W). What is the time in New York and which meal of the day is Sumegha enjoying?

Answer: 09:00 hrs breakfast

(c) If it is noon at Greenwich, calculate the local time of the places located on the following longitudes.

Answer: 60° W – 08:00 hrs
60° E – 16:00 hrs
45° W – 09:30 hrs
45° E – 15:30 hrs

Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers

Question 17: How was time calculated before clocks were invented?

Answer: Before clocks were invented, the length of a shadow cast by an object indicated the time at that place. For example – When the sun is directly overhead, the length of the shadow is the shortest and it is noon at that place.

Question 18: Why different countries have more than one time zones?

Answer: Some countries which have great east-west extent have several time zones. For example – USA has 5 and Russia has 11. Hence, such countries are divided into several time zones, each with its own standard time.

Question 19: How to calculate time of the places located at different meridians?

Answer: Places located on different meridians have different local times. 

The Earth takes 24 hours to complete 1 rotation i.e. to cover 360° of longitude.
For 1 degree of longitude it takes:
24 x 60 ÷  360 = 4 minutes  
So, it takes 4 minutes to cover 1° of longitude. 
Places in the east are ahead in time than places in the west. 
To calculate a degree of longitude towards east, add 4 minutes.
To calculate a degree of longitude towards west, subtract 4 minutes.

For Example –

Suppose, it is 12 noon at Greenwich (0°), what will be the time at 15° E and 15° W longitudes?

Solution:

The time difference between 0° and 15° = 15 x 4 = 60 minutes 
At 15° E, it will be 13 hours (12+1) or 1 pm 
At 15° W, it will be 11 hours (12-1) or 11 am

Question 20: When it is 10 am in India, what is the time in Tehran (51 1⁄2 °E)?

Answer: Difference of longitude is 82.5 – 51.5 = 31°
1° longitude has a time difference of 4 minutes
4 x 31 minutes = 2 hours and 04 mins.
Tehran is situated west of India; 2 hours 04 minutes should be subtracted from the Indian time. The time at Tehran is 10hrs – 2hrs 04 minutes = 7 hours 56 minutes 

Question 21: Your friend lives in New York. She wants to watch a TV show, which will be telecast at 1:00 PM at Greenwich. At what time does she need to switch on her TV? (Hint – New York 74° W)

Answer: Difference of longitude between Greenwich and New York 0° + 74° = 74°
1° longitude has a time difference of 4 minutes
4 x 74 minutes = 4 hours and 56 mins.
New York is situated west of Greenwich so, 4 hours and 56 mins should be subtracted from the Greenwich Time.
The time at which she will switch on her TV is 1 PM – 4hrs 56 minutes = 8:04 AM

So, these were Globe – Latitudes and Longitudes Questions & Answers.