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Learning About Latitude and Longitude. Miss Lynch 6 th Grade Social Studies. Facts About Latitude. Latitude lines run from east to west . Latitude measures distance north or south from the equator . Lines of latitude are also called parallels . Latitude is measured in degrees .
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Learning About Latitude and Longitude Miss Lynch 6th Grade Social Studies
Facts About Latitude • Latitude lines run from east to west. • Latitude measures distance north or south from the equator. • Lines of latitude are also called parallels. • Latitude is measured in degrees. • Latitude is measured from 0° to 90° north or south from the equator.
Facts About Latitude • The equator marks 0° latitude. • The North Pole is 90°N latitude. • The South Pole is 90°S latitude.
Great Circles and Latitude • A Great Circle is a circle on the surface of the earth that divides the earth into 2 equal halves. • The equator is the only line of latitude that is a Great Circle. • ALL lines of longitude are Great Circles
Facts About Longitude • All lines of longitude are Great Circles. • ALL lines of longitude meet at the North and South Poles. • Lines of longitude ARE NOT parallel because they meet at the poles.
Facts About Longitude • Lines of longitude measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian. • The International Date Line 180° longitude; it is neither east nor west.
More on Longitude… • The length of a degree of longitude is approximately 69 miles near the equator. • The length of a degree of longitude gradually decreases as it nears the poles. At 60°N latitude, a degree of longitude is approximately 35 miles. At the poles, the value of a degree of longitude is 0.
Great Circles and Longitude • The distance from the Prime Meridian west to the International Date Line is 180°. • The distance from the Prime Meridian east to the International Date Line in 180°.
Hints on finding a location’s latitude and/or longitude • Latitude is the first number, followed by a N or S. (i.e. 45°N, 120°W) • Longitude is the second number, followed by a E or W. (i.e. 65°S, 95°E) • Latitude is found by climbing up from the equator to your given point/location. • Longitude is found by walking across till you run into your point.
Videoes • http://video.about.com/geography/Latitude-and-Longitude.htm