Longitude

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/longitude

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is Longitude?Angular measurement in degrees, minutes, and seconds, indicating east-west position
2. What is the prime meridian reference?The meridian at 0°, passing near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London
3. What is the historical significance?Accurate longitude determination was crucial for maritime navigation and global exploration
4. What is longitude and how does it help us find places on Earth?Longitude is an angular coordinate that tells us how far east or west a place is from the prime meridian. It is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
5. Why is the prime meridian in Greenwich, London, special?The prime meridian is the line of 0° longitude that goes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. It is used as the starting point for measuring all other longitudes.

Longitude: An angular geographic coordinate defining an object's east-west position relative to the prime meridian.
Meridian: A line of constant longitude, running from the North Pole to the South Pole.
Prime Meridian: The meridian designated as 0° longitude, serving as the reference for all other longitudes.
Geodetic Normal: The direction perpendicular to the Earth's surface at a given point, used for longitude measurement.