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Question
State the use of the lines of longitude in relation to distance and time.
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Solution
- Distance: The distance between two lines of longitude varies based on their location. At the Equator, the distance between each degree of longitude is approximately 111 kilometers. However, this distance decreases as you move toward the poles, where the meridians converge.
- Time: Longitude is also crucial for calculating time zones. The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each corresponding to 15° of longitude. As the Earth rotates, the time changes by one hour for every 15° of longitude. The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) is used as the reference for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and local time is calculated based on the difference in longitude from the Prime Meridian.
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