Latitude and Longitude

Words to Know

• Sphere

• Hemisphere

• Equator

• Prime Meridian

• Latitude

• Parallels

• Longitude

• Meridians

SphereA 3-D object shaped like a ball.

HemisphereHalf of a sphere.

EquatorAn imaginary line that divides earth into the northern and

southern hemispheres. The equator is the 0° line of latitude.

An imaginary line that divides the earth into the eastern and western hemispheres. The prime

meridian is the 0° line of longitude.

Western Hemisphere

Eastern

Hemisphere

Prime Meridian

Prime Meridian

Prime MeridianIf you were to look at the Prime Meridian on a map

it would look like this...

LatitudeImaginary lines that measure the distance north or south from the equator.

Latitude lines run east/west but measure north/south.

Latitude

North Pole (90° N)

South Pole (90° S)

Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° N at the North Pole.

Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° S.L. at the South Pole.

][

90 8070

605040

2030

10

9080

70605040

2010

30

Latitude

The North Pole is at 90° N

The South Pole is at 90° S

The equator is at 0° latitude. It is neither north nor south. It is at the center between north and south poles.

40° N is the 40° line of latitude north of the equator.

40° S is the 40° line of latitude south of the equator.

ParallelsAnother name for lines of latitude.

LongitudeImaginary lines that measure the distance east or west from the prime meridian.

Longitude lines run north/south but measure east/west.

Longitude Lines of longitude begin

at the Prime Meridian.

60° W is the 60° line of longitude west of the Prime Meridian.

The Prime Meridian is located at 0°. It is neither east or west.

60° E is the 60° line of longitude east of the Prime Meridian.

W E

MeridiansAnother name for lines of longitude.

Latitude and Longitude Song(Tune of Jingle Bells)

Latitude, latitude

Lines go round and round

Measuring north

Measuring south

From the equator.

Oh, latitude, latitude

Lines go round and round

Measuring north

Measuring south

From the equator!

Longitude, longitude

Lines go up and down

Measuring east

Measuring west

From the equator.

Oh, longitude, longitude

Lines go up and down

Measuring east

Measuring west

From the equator!

Activity

• Use popsicle sticks to create a model of latitude and longitude.

Application:By combining latitude and

longitude, the exact location of any place on earth can be located.

A location’s coordinates are written____° N or S, ____ ° E or W

(Latitude is written first, then Longitude)

What country is located at 30°N and 90°W?

N

W E

S

What country is located at 20°S and 130°E?

E E E E E EW W W W W

N

N

N

S

S

White Board Practice:

Assessment:

Use a paper plate to create a model of the globe. Draw and label:

•equator

•prime meridian

•latitude lines including the degrees

•longitude lines including the degrees

•locate 20°S, 70°W and label it with a red dot