Features and Location of Places
The Equator, Great Circle, Small Circles, Meridian, Latitudes and Longitudes
Describe the equator, great circle, small circles, meridian, latitudes and longitudes
Definition of latitude and longitude
The Earth is not a perfect sphere, as it is slightly flatter at the north and south poles than at the equator. But for most purposes we assume that it is a sphere. The position of any point on earth is located by circles round the earth, as follows:
The earth rotates about its axis, which stretches from the north to the South Pole.
Circles round the Earth perpendicular to the axis are circles ofĀ LatitudeĀ and Circles round the Earth which go through the poles are circles ofĀ LongitudeĀ orĀ meridians.
Consider the following diagram
NormallyĀ LatitudeĀ is defined relative to the equator, which is the circle of latitude round the middle of the Earth whileĀ LongitudeĀ is defined relative to the circle of longitude which passes through Greenwich in London (Greenwich meridian).
The
latitude of a position tells us how far north or south of the equator
it is while the longitude of a position shows us how far east or west of
the Greenwich meridian it is.
latitude of a position tells us how far north or south of the equator
it is while the longitude of a position shows us how far east or west of
the Greenwich meridian it is.
Latitude;Ā If we draw a line from the centre of the Earth to any positionĀ PĀ , then the angle between this line and the plane of the equator is the latitude of P.
Longitude:Ā This is the angle between the plane through the circle of any Longitude P and the plane of the Greenwich meridian .
LatitudeĀ can be either North or South of the equator whileĀ LongitudeĀ can be either East or West of Greenwich.
When locating the latitude and longitude of a place we write the latitude first then longitude.
Example 1
Dar
es Salaam has latitude 7Ā°S (i.e. 7Ā° south of the equator) and longitude
39Ā°E (i.e. 39Ā° east of the Greenwich meridian). So Dar es Salaam is at
(7Ā°S, 39Ā°E).
es Salaam has latitude 7Ā°S (i.e. 7Ā° south of the equator) and longitude
39Ā°E (i.e. 39Ā° east of the Greenwich meridian). So Dar es Salaam is at
(7Ā°S, 39Ā°E).
NB;
Greenwich itself has latitude 51Ā°N ( i.e. 51Ā° north of the equator)and
longitude 0Ā° (by definition). Johannesburg has latitude 26Ā°S (i.e. 26
south of the equator) and longitude 28Ā°E(i.e. 28Ā°east of the Greenwich
meridian), therefore Johannesburg is at (26Ā°S, 28Ā°E).The north pole has
latitude 90Ā°S but its longitude is not defined. ( Every circle of
longitude goes through the north pole).The south pole has latitude 90Ā°s.
Its longitude is not defined.Ā So all points on the equator (such as Nanyuki in Kenya) have latitude 0Ā°
Greenwich itself has latitude 51Ā°N ( i.e. 51Ā° north of the equator)and
longitude 0Ā° (by definition). Johannesburg has latitude 26Ā°S (i.e. 26
south of the equator) and longitude 28Ā°E(i.e. 28Ā°east of the Greenwich
meridian), therefore Johannesburg is at (26Ā°S, 28Ā°E).The north pole has
latitude 90Ā°S but its longitude is not defined. ( Every circle of
longitude goes through the north pole).The south pole has latitude 90Ā°s.
Its longitude is not defined.Ā So all points on the equator (such as Nanyuki in Kenya) have latitude 0Ā°
Ranges; LatitudeĀ varies between 90Ā°S (at the south pole) to 90Ā°N (at the north pole).
Ranges; LatitudeĀ varies between 90Ā°S (at the south pole) to 90Ā°N (at the north pole).Ā LongitudeĀ varies between 180Ā°E and 180Ā°W. These are the longitudes on the opposite side of the Earth from Greenwich.
GREAT AND SMALL CIRCLES:
There is an essential difference between latitude and longitude.
Circles of longitude all have equal circumference. Circles of latitude
get smaller as they approach the poles. The centre of a circle of
longitude is at the centre of the earth. They are calledĀ great circles.Ā For circles of latitude, only the equator itself is a great circle. Circles of latitude are calledĀ small circles.
There is an essential difference between latitude and longitude.
Circles of longitude all have equal circumference. Circles of latitude
get smaller as they approach the poles. The centre of a circle of
longitude is at the centre of the earth. They are calledĀ great circles.Ā For circles of latitude, only the equator itself is a great circle. Circles of latitude are calledĀ small circles.
Example 2
Find the latitudes and longitudes of A and B on the diagram below;
Solution;
The point A is 60Ā° above equator, and 20Ā° east of Greenwich.
So the point A is at (60Ā°N, 20Ā°E)
The point B is 10Ā° below the equator, and on the Greenwich meridian.
So the point B is at (10Ā°S, 0Ā°).
Exercise 1
1. Write down the latitude and longitude of the places shown on figures below:
2. Copy the diagram show on the figure above and mark these points:
- (10Ā°N, 30Ā°E)
- (20Ā°N, 20Ā°W)
- (0Ā°, 20Ā°W)
3. Obtain a globe, and on it identify the following places.
- (40Ā°S, 30Ā°E)
- (50Ā°S,20Ā°W)
- (10Ā°N,40Ā°W)
- (40Ā°N, 30Ā°E)
- (80Ā°N,10Ā°E)
- (0Ā°,0Ā°)
Difference between angles of latitude or longitude
Suppose two places have the same longitude but different latitudes. Then they are north and south of each other.
In finding the difference between the latitudes take account of whether they are on the same side of the equator or not.
- If both points are south of the equator subtract the latitudes
- If both points are the north of the equator subtract the latitudes
- If one point is south of the equator and the other north thenĀ addĀ the latitudes
Similarly, suppose two places have the same latitudes but different longitudes:
- If both points are east of Greenwich subtract the Longitudes
- If both points are west of Greenwich subtract the Longitudes
- If one point is east of Greenwich and the other west thenĀ addĀ the longitudes
Suppose placesĀ AĀ andĀ BĀ are on the same longitude, then the difference in latitude is theangleĀ subtended byĀ ABĀ at the centre of the earth.
Suppose places A andĀ BĀ are on the same latitude.
Then the difference in longitude is theĀ angleĀ subtended byĀ ABĀ on the earthās axis.
Locating a Place on the Earthās Surface
Locate a place on the Earthās surface
Example 3
Three
places on longitude 30Ā°E are Alexandria (in Egypt) at (31Ā°N, 30Ā°E),
Kigali (in Rwanda) at (2Ā°S, 30Ā°) and Pietermaritzburg (in South Africa)
at (30Ā°S, 30Ā°E).
places on longitude 30Ā°E are Alexandria (in Egypt) at (31Ā°N, 30Ā°E),
Kigali (in Rwanda) at (2Ā°S, 30Ā°) and Pietermaritzburg (in South Africa)
at (30Ā°S, 30Ā°E).
Find the difference in latitude between
- Kigali and Pietermaritzburg
- Kigali and Alexandria
Solution
(a)Both Towns are south of the equator. So subtract the latitudes. 30 ā 2 = 28
Therefore the difference is 280
(b) Kigali is south of the equator, and Alexandria is north, so add the latitudes
31 + 2 = 33
The difference isĀ 330
Example 4
A
plane starts at Chileka airport (in Malawi) which is at (16Ā°S, 35Ā°E).
It flies west for 50Ā°. What is its new latitude and longitude?
plane starts at Chileka airport (in Malawi) which is at (16Ā°S, 35Ā°E).
It flies west for 50Ā°. What is its new latitude and longitude?
Solution
Since it flies west, then subtract 35Ā° from 50Ā°. This gives 15Ā°
The new longitude is now west of Greenwich, hence the plane is at (16Ā°S, 15Ā°W).
Exercise 2
1. In the diagram shown in the following figure find,
- The difference in longitude between A and B
- The difference in longitude between D and E
Distances along Great Circles
Distances along Great Circles
Calculate distances along great circles
Take
two places X and Y on the same line of longitude, i.e. one place is due
north of the other. Suppose X is due north of Y. When travelling north
from Y to X, you travel along part of a circle of longitude that is you
travel along an arc of the circle.
two places X and Y on the same line of longitude, i.e. one place is due
north of the other. Suppose X is due north of Y. When travelling north
from Y to X, you travel along part of a circle of longitude that is you
travel along an arc of the circle.
The diagram below shows two points A and B on the same circle of longitude.
In the figure above, the sector containing the arc AB subtendingā
, is shown.
Recall the formula for the length of arc.
NB:
Remember, to find the difference in latitudes, take account of whether
the places are north or south of the equator. If they are all found in
south or north, then subtract the latitudes. If one is south and the
other North then add the latitudes.
Remember, to find the difference in latitudes, take account of whether
the places are north or south of the equator. If they are all found in
south or north, then subtract the latitudes. If one is south and the
other North then add the latitudes.
Nautical miles
Navigation Related Problems
Solve navigation related problems
Example 5
Find the distance between Alexandria (31Ā°N, 30Ā°E) and Kigali (2Ā°S, 30Ā°E)
Solution
Example 6
A plane starts at (200S, 300E), and flies north for 4000 km. Find its new latitude and longitude.
Example 7
A plane flies north from (10Ā°S, 30Ā°E) to ((27Ā°N, 30Ā°E) taking a time of 3 hours.
Find its speed, giving your answer I both knots and kilometers per hour.
Exercise 3
Consider the following Questions.
Distance along Small Circles
Calculate distance along small circles
Suppose
P and Q are places west or east of each other, i.e they lie on the same
circle of latitude. Then when you travel due east or west from P to Q
you travel along an arc of the circle of latitude.
P and Q are places west or east of each other, i.e they lie on the same
circle of latitude. Then when you travel due east or west from P to Q
you travel along an arc of the circle of latitude.
The
situation here is slightly different from that of the previous section.
While circles of longitude all have the same length, circles of
latitude get smaller as they get nearer the poles.
situation here is slightly different from that of the previous section.
While circles of longitude all have the same length, circles of
latitude get smaller as they get nearer the poles.
Consider the circle of latitude 50Ā°S. Let its radius be r km.
Nautical miles
Example 8
Find the distance in km and nm along a circle of latitude between (20Ā°N, 30Ā°E) and (20Ā°N, 40Ā°W).
Solution:
Both places are on latitude 20Ā°N. The difference in longitude is 70Ā°. Use the formula for distance.
Distance = 111.7 cos20Ā° x 70Ā°. Hence the distance in nautical miles is 60 x 70 x cos20Ā°
The distance isĀ 3,950 nm.
Example 9
A ship starts at (40Ā°S, 30Ā°W) and sails due west for 1,000 km. Find its new latitude and longitude.
Example 10
A ship sails west from (20Ā°S, 15Ā°E) to (20Ā°S, 23Ā°E), taking 37 hours. Find speed, in knots and in kms per hr.
Exercise 4
Consider the following Questions.
Navigation
Suppose
a ship is sailing in a sea current, or that a plane is flying in a
wind. Then the course set the ship or plane is not the direction that it
will move in. the actual direction and speed can be found either by
scale or by the use of Pythagorasās theorem and trigonometry.
a ship is sailing in a sea current, or that a plane is flying in a
wind. Then the course set the ship or plane is not the direction that it
will move in. the actual direction and speed can be found either by
scale or by the use of Pythagorasās theorem and trigonometry.
Draw
the line representing the motion of the ship relative to the water. At
the end of this line draw a line representing the current. Draw the
third side of the triangle. This side, shown with a double ā headed
arrow, is the actual course of ship.
the line representing the motion of the ship relative to the water. At
the end of this line draw a line representing the current. Draw the
third side of the triangle. This side, shown with a double ā headed
arrow, is the actual course of ship.
Example 11
A
ship sets course due east. In still water the ship can sail at 15km/hr.
There is a current following due south of 4kkm/hr. use a scale drawing
to find.
ship sets course due east. In still water the ship can sail at 15km/hr.
There is a current following due south of 4kkm/hr. use a scale drawing
to find.
- The speed of the ship
- The bearing of the sip.
Solution:
In
one hour the ship sails 15km east relative to the water. Draw a
horizontal line of length 15cm. In one hour the current pulls the ship
4km south. At the end of the horizontal line, draw a vertical line of
length 4cm.
one hour the ship sails 15km east relative to the water. Draw a
horizontal line of length 15cm. In one hour the current pulls the ship
4km south. At the end of the horizontal line, draw a vertical line of
length 4cm.
Example 12
The ship of example 10 needs to travel due east. Calculate the following.
- What course should be set?
- How long will the ship take to cover 120km?
Solution
The ship needs to set a course slightly north of east, consider the following diagram.
Note:
With no current, the journey would take 8hrs. The journey takes
slightly longer when there is a current.Suppose a ship or a plane does
not directly reach a position. We can still find how close the ship or
plane is to the position.
With no current, the journey would take 8hrs. The journey takes
slightly longer when there is a current.Suppose a ship or a plane does
not directly reach a position. We can still find how close the ship or
plane is to the position.
Example 13
A
small island is 200km away on a bearing of 075Ā°. A ship sails on a
bearing of 070Ā°.Find the closest that the ship is to the island.
small island is 200km away on a bearing of 075Ā°. A ship sails on a
bearing of 070Ā°.Find the closest that the ship is to the island.
Exercise 5
1. Find the difference in longitude between Cape Town (34Ā°S, 18Ā°E) and Buenos Aires (34Ā°S, 58Ā°W)
2. A ship startsat (15Ā°N, 30Ā°W) and sails south for 2,500km. Where does it end up?
3. Find thedistance in km along circle of latitude between cape Town and Buenos aires (see question 2)
4. A plane starts at (37Ā°S, 23Ā°W) and flies east for 1,500 km. where does it end up?
5. Find thedistance in nau
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