Latitude and Longitude Practice

Welcome!





Last week, we started by establishing our basic knowledge of Geography. We learned the definition of geography, which is the study of where people, places, and things are located and how they relate to each other. We learned about two ways of explaining location: relative and absolute. Relative location is when you describe a location in relation to another location. For example, Bosse high school is southeast of the University of Evansville's main campus. That's helpful if I know where U of E is located, but what if I don't?





Absolute location gives us two coordinates for a place - its latitude and its longitude.





Line of Latitude are imaginary lines which extend around the earth like a belt. Lines of latitude are measured either North or South of the equator in units called degrees. The Equator is the most important line of latitude, and its coordinate is zero degrees.

Lines of Longitude are imaginary lines which stretch from the north to the south pole. Lines of longitude are measured either East or West of the Prime Meridian in units called degrees. The Prime Meridian is the most important line of longitude, and its coordinate is zero degrees.

When you combine lines of longitude and latitude, they make a kind of grid on the earth. From this grid we can determine absolute location. Make sense?

To practice determining latitude and longitude, you can follow this link to a fun game. (Click on the word "link")

Helpful Hint: Remember! Lines of longitude and latitude are never negative, they are either north or south, east or west, respectively.

Also remember! When you are saying North or South, you are really saying "North or South of the equator." Likewise, when you say East or West, you are really saying "East or West of the prime meridian." Keeping this in mind will help you to succeed in this part of the course!