6 Questions
What is the range of latitude on the Earth's surface?
0° to 90°
What is the primary use of latitude in astronomy?
To determine the position of celestial objects in the sky
What type of latitude takes into account the Earth's slightly ellipsoidal shape?
Geodetic Latitude
What is the angular distance of a point on the Earth's surface from the equator?
Latitude
What is the purpose of latitude in navigation?
To identify locations on the Earth's surface
What are the imaginary circles that run parallel to the equator?
Latitude lines
Study Notes
Latitude
Definition
- Latitude is the angular distance of a point on the Earth's surface from the equator, measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
- It is an angular measurement, ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.
Types of Latitude
- Geographic Latitude: The angle between the equatorial plane and a line connecting the center of the Earth to a point on the surface.
- Geocentric Latitude: The angle between the equatorial plane and a line connecting the center of the Earth to a point on the surface, assuming a perfectly spherical Earth.
- Geodetic Latitude: The angle between the equatorial plane and a line connecting the center of the Earth to a point on the surface, taking into account the Earth's slightly ellipsoidal shape.
Characteristics
- Latitude lines, or parallels, are imaginary circles that run parallel to the equator.
- Latitude ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° N (north) at the North Pole and 90° S (south) at the South Pole.
- Latitude is used to identify locations on the Earth's surface, along with longitude.
Importance
- Latitude is essential in navigation, geography, and cartography.
- It helps to determine the climate, temperature, and weather patterns of a region.
- Latitude is used in astronomy to determine the position of celestial objects in the sky.
Latitude
Definition
- Latitude is the angular distance of a point on the Earth's surface from the equator, measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
- It ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.
Types of Latitude
- Geographic Latitude: The angle between the equatorial plane and a line connecting the center of the Earth to a point on the surface.
- Geocentric Latitude: The angle between the equatorial plane and a line connecting the center of the Earth to a point on the surface, assuming a perfectly spherical Earth.
- Geodetic Latitude: The angle between the equatorial plane and a line connecting the center of the Earth to a point on the surface, taking into account the Earth's slightly ellipsoidal shape.
Characteristics
- Latitude lines, or parallels, are imaginary circles that run parallel to the equator.
- Latitude ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° N (north) at the North Pole and 90° S (south) at the South Pole.
- Latitude is used to identify locations on the Earth's surface, along with longitude.
Importance
- Latitude is essential in navigation, geography, and cartography.
- It helps to determine the climate, temperature, and weather patterns of a region.
- Latitude is used in astronomy to determine the position of celestial objects in the sky.
Understanding latitude, its definition, types, and measurements. Learn about geographic and geocentric latitude.
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