Theory question 203
Latitude, Longitude and Time(a) Describe any four ways in which lines of longitude are different from lines of latitude (b) Calculate the approximate distance in a straight line between Tema (Latitude 6°N) and London (Latitude 52°N) (Show all workings clearly)
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(a) Longitudes run north-south from pole to pole, latitudes east-west; longitudes meet at the poles, latitudes are parallel; longitudes are measured 0-180° E or W of Greenwich, latitudes 0-90° N or S of the equator; all longitudes are equal in length and each pair forms a great circle, latitudes shrink towards the poles and only the equator is a great circle; longitudes are used to find time, latitudes to show climatic zones.
(b) Tema and London are on almost the same meridian (about 0°). Difference in latitude = 52° − 6° = 46°. Distance = 46 × 111 km = 5,106 km (about 5,100 km).
Both places lie close to the Greenwich meridian, so subtract the latitudes.