Going To The North Pole

Latitude vs. Longitude: Differences in Simple Terms

Learn what latitude vs. longitude is to go a articulate agreement of what these two terms hateful and what they measure out. Figure out what latitude and longitude hateful in a clear mode through examples.

latitude versus longitude definition breadth versus longitude definition

Agreement Latitude vs. Longitude

If y'all've always looked at a GPS, you might notice breadth and longitude. Only what does that mean?

Latitude is the points north and south of the equator.
Longitude is the points east and west of the prime meridian.

Nevertheless not clear? Retrieve of latitude and longitude as an imaginary grid placed over the world to assist you find places. The equator is halfway between the North and South Poles. It'south an imaginary horizontal line that cuts the planet completely in half. Latitude lines are imaginary lines a specific degree away from the equator going to the North and South Pole.

Like the equator, the prime acme is an imaginary vertical line that splits the earth in half from the North to the South Pole. Longitude is vertical lines going from one pole to the other starting at the prime elevation.

Differences & Similarities Between Longitude vs. Latitude

Now that you know the definition of latitude and longitude, explore a few differences and similarities between these two.

Term:	latitude	longitude
Definition:	northward and south of the equator	east and west of the prime meridian
Known as:	parallels	meridians
Range:	0 to xc degrees north and southward	0 to 180 degrees east and west
Distance from:	equator	prime elevation
Lines Information technology Has on Globe:	180	360
Greek Letter of the alphabet:	phi	lambda

What Is Latitude?

When information technology comes to lines of latitude, it'southward all about the equator. These parallel lines follow the line of the equator and get from the equator to the N Pole and from the equator to the Due south Pole at an equal distance, which is why they are called parallels. Latitude lines progressively become smaller and smaller until they get to the Due north Pole and the South Pole.

To come across why this is, you could put parallel lines horizontally on a ball. You'll discover that as yous become closer to the top, the lines you lot create get smaller and smaller because the brawl is thickest at the middle and gets thinner every bit you.

Measuring Latitude for Locations

Breadth is measured using degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS), one caste is 60 minutes and 1 infinitesimal is 60 seconds. Lines of latitude are measured in degrees from 0 to xc degrees. As you might guess, the range is 0 at the equator and xc at the North Pole and the S Pole. Latitude can either be negative (S) or positive (Due north). Information technology can also be calculated in all positive numbers and denote N or S. Some examples of latitude include:

The Tropic of Cancer - 23.5 degrees North
The Tropic of Capricorn - 23.five degrees Southward
The Antarctic Circumvolve - 66.5 degrees Due south
The Arctic Circle - 66.five degrees N

The Meaning of Longitude

While the lines of latitude are parallel, the lines of longitude are non. Lines of longitude are similar to wedges of an orangish. The lines of longitude run from one pole to the other in perfect wedges. These lines run upward and down the Earth, creating the vertical lines of the grid.

Since everything has to outset somewhere, lines of longitude get-go at the prime meridian. The prime meridian runs through Greenwich, England, and goes until it reaches the antimeridian, or International Date Line, which is halfway around the Earth.

How to Measure Longitude

Lines of longitude are measured in degrees from 0 to 180 degrees running east and west. Like latitude, longitude is measured using degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS). The prime meridian is 0 degrees, and the antimeridian or International Engagement Line is at 180 degrees. When you lot cross the Internation Date Line, the day magically changes with the west being one solar day ahead of the e. Longitudes are also positive (E) and negative (W) or denoted equally E and Westward.

How to Go along Latitude and Longitude Straight

Knowing what latitude and longitude are is just half the battle. Remembering which i is which of these L words can be more hard. When thinking of latitude call up ladder. Latitude runs horizontally across the earth like the rungs of a ladder. To remember longitude, recollect about long. Something that is long runs vertically up and downwards. You lot tin can fifty-fifty utilize this fun phrase.

Breadth is fatter running across like a ladder.
Don't go wrong by remembering longitude is long.

Breadth vs. Longitude: Places on Earth

Latitude and longitude make GPS possible. When it comes to coordinates, they are measured in latitude and longitude using degrees. GPS is needed for meteorologists to accurately mensurate weather. Explore more nearly weather past looking at mutual types of weather.