Enrichment

CHAPTER 23: EARTH AS A SPHERE

23.1 LONGITUDE

Great Circles are circles with their centres at the centre of the earth.
Meridians are semicircles connecting the North Pole and the South Pole, running on the
surface of the earth.
The longitude of a meridian is determined by
(i)
the angle between the plane of the meridian with that of the Greenwich
Meridian
(ii)
its position to the left or to the right of the Greenwich Meridian.
The longitude of a given point is written as x0 E or x0 W.
The difference between two longitudes:
o If both longitudes are from the same sides of the Greenwich Meridian, (both E
or both W), then the difference between the two longitudes is the difference of
the angles.
o If the longitudes are from different sides of the Greenwich Meridian, (one E
and the other W), then the difference between the two longitudes is the sum of
the angles.
N
0

20 W

400 E

P
0

60

Equator
S
The difference in longitudes = 400 ( - 200) = 600.

23.2

LATITUDE
The Equator is a great circle with its plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the earth.
Parallels of latitudes are circles with planes perpendicular to the axis of the earth and are
parallel to the equator.
Latitude is the angle at the centre of the earth subtended by an arc of a meridian running
from the equator to a parallel of latitude.
The latitude of a point is written as x0 N or x0 S.
The latitude of the Equator is O0.
Latitudes ranges from 00 to 900 N ( or S).
All points on a parallel of latitude have the same latitude.

Earth As A Sphere

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23.3 LOCATION (POSITION) OF A PLACE

Every place on the surface of the earth is represented by a point on the globe.
Its location is determined by the point of intersection of the relevant parallel of latitude and
meridian.
N
X

200 W

600 N
400 E

The Equator

500 W

S
Ex.

The location of X is ( 60 0 N, 200 W )

The location of Y is ( 60 0 N, 400 E )

If the longitude of P is 500 W and PQ is the diameter of the earth, then the
longitude of Q is 1300 E. Hence the location of Q is (00, 1300 E)
Exercise 23.3 A : To determine the location of a place (denoted by a point)
(You need to be able to state the latitude and longitude of the point)
1.
N

400 E
500 N

Point
P
Q
A
B
C
D
E

1000 W

Earth As A Sphere

PQ is a diameter of the earth.

Location
( 00, 1000 W )

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Exercise 23.3 B : To MARK the location of given points on the earth.

1. PQ is a diameter of the earth.
Mark on the given diagram, the location of each of the points below.
N

700 E
420 N

Point
A
B
C
D
X
Y
Z

Location
( 00 , 700 E )
( 420 N, 100 E )
( 420 S, 1000 E )
( 00 , 100 E )
( 00 , 800 W )
( 420 N, 800 W )
( 420 N, 700 E )

100 E

1000 E

23.4 Given Point X, To Determine The Location of Y if XY is The Diameter of a given

Parallel of Latitude.
N

150 W

550 N

EX. 23.4A 1.

T
P

K
Earth As A Sphere

800 N

PQ is a diameter of the earth.

XY is the diameter of the 600 N parallel
of latitude.
Complete the table below :
Point
X
Y
R
T
K
L

Location

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23.5 Given P, To Determine The Location of Q if PQ is The Diameter of The Earth.

750 N

EX. 23.5A 1.

PQ, XY and AB are diameters of the

earth.
State the location of each of the
following points:

PointLocationP( 00 , 1000 E )QABXY

B
1000 E
S

800 E

800 E

700 N

EX. 23.5 A 2.

PQ, XY and AB are diameters of the

earth.
State the location of each of the
following points:

P
X

PointLocationP( 00 , 600 E )QABXY

B
600 E
S
Earth As A Sphere

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23.6 To Determine The Location of a Point Given the Difference in Longitudes.

EX. 23.6 A1.

750 N

PQ is a diameter of the earth.

State the location of each of the
following points:

P
Y

40

PointLocationA( 750N , 300 E )XYB

300 E

EX. 23.6 A 2.
0

75 N
A

P
Y

300 B
Earth As A Sphere

PQ is a diameter of the earth.

State the location of each of the
following points:

500

PointLocationA( 750N , 300 B )YXB

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23.7 To Determine The Location of a Point Given the Difference in Parallels of Latitudes.

EX. 23.7 A1
350 N

PQ is a diameter of the earth.

State the location of each of the
following points:

500

PointLocationA( 350N , 420 E )BYX

180 W

420 E

EX. 23.7 A2.

550 N

PQ is a diameter of the earth.

State the location of each of the
following points:

600

Earth As A Sphere

6
0

10 E

660 E

PointLocationA( 550N , 660 E )BXY

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Questions Based on the Examination Format (Paper 1)

1. In Diagram 1, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole and NOS is the axis of the earth.
N

A
O

00

600

600

Considering the four points A, B, C and

D, which of these is (600 N, 00 E) ?

Greenwich
Meridian

S
Diagram 1

2. P(150N, 100E), Q and R are three points on the earth surface. Q is due south of P. The

difference in latitude between P and Q is 650. R is due west of Q. The difference in

longitude between Q and R is 800. The position of R is
A
C
80S ,90 E
50S , 70 E

80S , 70W

50S , 70W

3. In Diagram 3, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole, NOS is the axis of the earth and

PR is a diameter of the parallels of latitude.

500

Find the position of point R.

00

Greenwich
Meridian
Earth As A Sphere

500

50 N ,50W

50 N ,130W

50 N ,50E

D 50 N ,130 E
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4.

Diagram 3

Diagram 4 shows the position of five towns, A, B, C, D and X, on the surface of the
earth.
N

500 N

Which of the town, A, B, C or

D, is located east of X with
difference in longitude of 600 ?

100 N
D

600 E

600 W
200 W

400 E

S
Diagram 4

5. In Diagram 5, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole, NOS is the axis of the earth.
N
P

The position of point P is

800

O
1000
Equator

Greenwich
Meridian

10 N ,80W

10 N ,100W

80 N ,80W

80 N ,100 E

S
Diagram 5

(For the questions below you are strongly advised to sketch a diagram!)
6. The shortest distance in nautical miles from P(60 N, 120 W) to Q(50N, 120W) via
the north pole is
A 600
B 3600
C 4200
D 6600
Earth As A Sphere

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7.

Given that PQ is diameter of the earth. If the location of P is (70 N, 35 W), the
location of Q is
A
(70 S, 145 E)
C
(70 N , 145 E)
B
(20 S, 145 E)
D
(70 S, 35 E)

8.

The distance from P(60 S, 60 W) to Q(60 S, 120 W) along the common latitude is
A 2700 nm
C
5400 nm
B
3600 nm
D
6300 nm

9.

The shortest distance from London to the North Pole is 2310 nm . The latitude of
London is
A
23.1 N
C
66.9 N
B
38.5 N
D
51.5 N

10. The shortest distance in nautical miles, from P(75 N, 110 W) to Q(80 N, 70 E)
measured on the earths surface is
A
300
C
2400
B
1500
D
9300
11. The shortest distance from P(30 N,70 E) to Q(x N, 110 W) via the north pole is
6600 nm.
Find the value of x.
A
30
C
50
B
40
D
60
12.

P(40 N, 120 W) and Q are two points on the earths surface. If Q is 4500 nautical
miles due south of P, find the latitude of Q.
A
10 S
C
35 S
B
25 S
D
65 S

13.

M(70 N, 100 W) and N are two points on the earths surface. If the shortest
distance from M to N via the North Pole is 5100 nautical miles, find the latitude of N.
A
15 N
C
65 N
B
25 N
D
85 N

14. N and S are the North and South Poles respectively. P is (40 N, 10 W) and the two
arc lengths of PQ and QS are equal. Find the latitude of Q
A
15 S
C
25 S
B
20 S
D
30 S

Earth As A Sphere

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15. P(25 N, 50 W), Q and R are three points on the earths surface. Q is due south of P
and the difference in latitude between P and Q is 60. R is due west of Q and the
difference in longitude between Q and R is 80. The location of R is
A (35 S, 30 W)
C
(85 S, 30 W)
B
(35 S, 130 W)
D
(85 S, 130 W)
16. M(50 N, 110 E) and N are two points on the earths surface. Given that MN is the
diameter of a great circle, find the position of N.
A
(40 S, 70 W)
C
C (50 S, 70 W)
B
(40 S, 110 E)
D
(50 S,110 E)
17. F (80 N, 42 W) and G are the two points on the earth surface . Given that FG is the
diameter of the great circle , the position of G is
A
(80N , 138 E)
C
(10N, 138 E)
B
(80 N, 42 W)
D
(10 N, 42 W)
18. U (0 N, 0 E) and V is the two points on the surface earth . V is 40 due east of U.
The position of V is
A
(0 N, 40 W)
C
(40 N, 50 W)
B
(0 N, 40 E)
D
( 40N, 40 E)
19. J(30 N, 80 E) , K and L are three points on the earth surface. J is due to north K. The
difference in the latitude between J and K is 50. L is due west of K and the difference
in longitude K and L is 60. The position of L is
A
(50 N, 60 E)
C
(20 S, 140 W)
B
(80 N, 140 W)
D
(20 S, 20 E)
20. P and Q are two points on the equator. The shortest distance between P and Q is 4320
nautical miles. Q is due east of P and the longitude of Q is 80 E. The longitude of P is
A
8 E
C
72 W
B
8 W
D
152 E
21. M (5 S , 87E) and M(63 S, 87 E) are two points on the surface earth. Calculate the
distance in nautical miles , between the two points measured along the meridian
A
3480
C
4080
B
3780
D
5220
22. J and K are two points on the equator of the earth. Given that the distance between the
two points is 1440 nautical miles measured the equator. Find the different in longitude
of two points
A
14
C
36
B
24
D
66

Earth As A Sphere

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23. P(0N , 20 E), Q and R are three points on the surface earth. Q is due west of P and R
is the midpoint of PQ The distance between P and R is 3000 nautical miles. Find the
longitude of Q.
A
5 E
C
5 W
B
70 E
D
30 W
24. X( 50 N, 140 E) and Y (60 N, 40 W) are two points on the earth surface. Calculate
the distance in nautical miles between X and Y via North pole.
A
3000
C
4200
B
3600
D
6600
25. P (60 0 S, 90 0 E) and Q (60 0 S, 90 0 W) are two points on the surface of the earth.
Calculate the distance in nautical miles from P to Q measured along the common
parallel of latitude.
A
10800
C
5400
B
7200
D
3600

Earth As A Sphere

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Past Year SPM Questions (Paper 1)

1. (2003N, P1, Q15)
In Diagram 8, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole and NOS is the axis of the earth.
N

A
00

400

600

Greenwich
Meridian

S
Diagram 8

Considering the four points A, B, C and D, which of these is (400 N, 00 E)?

2.

(July 2004, P1, Q19)

M 40 N , 60W and N are two points on the earths surface. If MN is a diameter of the
parallel latitude, the position of point N is
A 40S ,120W
B
C
D

40S ,120E
40 N ,120W
40 N ,120E

3. (November 2004, P1, Q17)

P(150N, 100W), Q and R are three points on the earth surface. Q is due south of P. The
difference in latitude between P and Q is 500. R is due west of Q. The difference in
longitude between Q and R is 700. The position of R is
65 N , 60 E
A
B
C
D

65 N ,80W
35 N , 60 E
35 N ,80W

Earth As A Sphere

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4. (July 2005, P1, Q18)

Diagram 10 shows three points P, Q and R on the surface of the earth. P and Q lie on the
equator. NPS is the Greenwich Meridian and O is the centre of the earth.
N

R
O
P

40o

50O

Q
DIAGRAM 10

S
State the position of point R
A
40 N ,50 E

50 N , 40 E

5.

C
D

40 N ,50W
40S ,50W

(November 2005, P1, Q17)

In Diagram 10, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole, NOS is the axis of the earth and
PR is a diameter of the parallels of latitude.
P

700

Greenwich
Meridian

400

Find the position of point R.

A

40 N , 70W

40 N , 70 E

40 N ,110W

40 N ,110E

Diagram 10
Earth As A Sphere

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6. (November 2005, P1, Q18)

Diagram 11 shows the position of five towns, A, B, C, D and X, on the surface of the earth.
N

50 N

Which of the town, A, B, C or D,

is located east of X with difference
of 400 in longitude?

100 N
D

400 E

600 W
200 W

200 E

7. (July 2006, P1, Q18)

In Diagram 9, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole, NOS is the axis of the earth.
N

The position of point P is

60

O
800

S
Diagram 9

Earth As A Sphere

60 N ,80W

60 N ,100W

80 N , 60E

D 80 N ,100 E
Equator

Greenwich
Meridian

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8.

(November 2006, P1, Q18).

In Diagram 10, N is the North Pole, S is the South Pole and O is the centre of the earth. R
is the centre of the circle of latitude 30 N .
N
80o E
R
o

45

60o
O

30o N

P
DIAGRAM 10

S
The position of point P is

A
B
C
D

Earth As A Sphere

15S , 20E
15S ,140E
45S , 20E
45S ,140E

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