WAEC Geography 1993 Theory question 202

Theory question 202

Latitude, Longitude and Time

(a) Explain any four ways in which lines of latitude differ from lines of longitudes
(b) If the time at town A (long 75°W) is 5.00p.m on Friday, what will be the time and day at town B (long 120°E)? Show your workings clearly.

Show the model answer
Model answer

(a) Latitudes run east-west, longitudes north-south; latitudes are parallel and never meet, longitudes meet at the poles; latitudes measured 0-90° N/S of the equator, longitudes 0-180° E/W of Greenwich; lengths of parallels decrease towards the poles, all meridians are equal (half great circles); latitude used for distance and climatic zones, longitude for time
(b) Longitude difference = 75 + 120 = 195°; 195 ÷ 15 = 13 hours; B is east of A, so add: 5.00 p.m. Friday + 13 h = 6.00 a.m. Saturday

Explanation

When the two places are on opposite sides of Greenwich, add the longitudes.