Latitude and Longitude Lab # 1

Experiment # 22 in text

Page 291

After the lab is complete you will be able to:

Explain the grid system used for locating places and features on Earth.

Use Earth’s grid system to accurately locating places and features on Earth.

Explain the relationship between latitude and the angle of the North Star (Polaris) above the horizon

Earth’s Grid System A system of North-South and East-West lines

on a map that form the basis of locating points on Earth.

Latitude – North-South distance on Earth• They are a measured distance North or South

from the equator. • They are horizontal lines that circle a globe.

Longitude – East-West distance on Earth• These lines mark a distance East or West from the

prime meridian.• They are the vertical lines that circle the globe.

Important Latitude Lines

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/imagee.htm

Latitude Lines

They run East to West and they measure the distance North or South of the Equator

Equator is the only great circle that is also a latitude line• Great circles - cut the globe in half

The tropic of Cancer and Capricorn are small circles• Small circles - do not cut the globe in half

How to Determine Latitude

Latitude line may be drawn at any interval from the equator

On page 292 draw a line through B (this is the equator)

From the equator draw a line to point C The line connecting these two points will have

a 45O angle. This point is therefore 45O N latitude

Figure 22.3 pg 292

C

Equator

45O Angle

Thus point C is 45O N latitude

B

Longitude Lines

Run North to South; they measure a distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Where to put the prime meridian? Greenwich, England here because at the time England

was the head of the scientific community. Before there were many meridians that longitude was

based off of. The Prime Meridian was used to standardize all of the

other Meridians. All longitude lines are great circles.

London, England

Prime Meridian

North Pole

South Pole

Using Earth’s Grid System

Using both parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude it is possible to accurately locate any point on the surface of the Earth.

Where 90O (N or S) is the maximum distance from the Equator and 180O is the maximum distance from the Prime Meridian.

To be more precise we can break down degrees into minutes and seconds.• Fractions of a degree (not covered in this class)

Labeling Latitude and Longitude

For Latitude Lines:• North (N) or South (S) must be labeled for all

latitudes except the Equator (0O)

For Latitude Lines:• East (E) or West (W) must be labeled for all

longitudes except the Prime Meridian (0O) and the International Date Line (180O)

Lab Report

Due Next Class:• Questions on page 321 #1-7, 11 & 12