Why is the equator the most important line of latitude?

Why is the equator the most important line of latitude?

The equator serves many purposes. One of such purposes is to divide the earth into two equal hemispheres – northern and southern. In addition, it serves as a reference point and division for all other lines that are parallel to the equator. this is why equator is the most important line of the latitude.

Why is the equator the most important of all the latitudes Why is it also called the Great Circle?

A great circle has the same boundary and same centre point as its sphere. Great circles are seen on all meridians on Earth. All the lines of longitude meet at the poles, intersecting the Earth in half. Thus a great circle always splits the Earth into two halves, so that the Equator is a great circle.

What is the main or most important line of latitude?

Important lines of latitude:

• the equator (0°)
• the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° north)
• the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° south)
• the Arctic circle (66.5° north)
• the Antarctic circle (66.5° south)
• the North Pole (90° north)
• the South Pole (90° south)

What is the importance of line of latitude?

The importance of longitude and latitude are: Latitudes help in identifying and locating major heat zones of the earth. Latitude measures the distance between the north to south from the equator. Latitude helps in understanding the pattern of wind circulation on the global surface.

What are the two most important lines of longitude?

Lines of longitude are imaginary lines which run in a north-south direction from the North Pole to the South Pole. The lines are called meridians of longitude and they are also measured in degrees (°) and minutes (‘). The most important line of longitude is the Greenwich or Prime Meridian (0°).

What is the important latitude?

Besides the equator (0°), the North Pole (90°N) and the South Pole (90° S), there are four important parallels of latitudes– (i) Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the Northern Hemisphere. (ii) Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern Hemisphere. (iii) Arctic Circle at 66½° north of the equator.

How are latitude lines related to the equator?

1: Latitude lines are the circle on globe in an east-west direction. These lines are also called as parallel lines. 2: Latitudes measure how far north or south a point lies from the equator. 3: The equator is at zero degrees latitude and separates earth’s northern and southern hemisphere .

Why are the lines of latitude important to scientists?

On a spherical model of the Earth, these form small circles on the surface (with the exception of the equator, where latitude equals 0°, which is a great circle), and their center is the axis of rotation of the Earth. They are used to indicate the location of points of equal latitude, i.e., equal to some required value.

How are latitudes and longitudes measured on Earth?

Latitude locations are given as __ degrees North or __ degrees South. Vertical mapping lines on Earth are lines of longitude, known as “meridians”. One simple way to visualize this might be to think about having hula hoops cut in half, vertically positioned with one end at the North Pole and the other at the South Pole.

Which is the starting point for the line of latitude?

The equator circles the globe with a circumference of nearly 25,000 miles, dividing the northern and the southern hemispheres. This line of latitude is the starting point when referring to other points of the globe in terms of degrees north and degrees south.