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Absolute Location – Using Latitude and Longitude

August 29, 2013 - Geography

If you have played the game “Battleship,” you have already done latitude and longitude.

If you have done graphing (x,y) in math class, you have already done latitude and longitude.

Vocabulary Terms

• Latitude Lines – grid lines that run east-west on the earth

(side-to-side). These lines measure the degrees north or

south a location is. (Sometimes called parallels.)

• Longitude Lines – grid lines that run north-south on the

earth (up and down). These lines measure the degrees

east or west a location is. (Sometimes called meridians.)

• Equator – 0 degree line of latitude

• Prime Meridian – 0 degree line of longitude

• Latitude lines show us how far a location sits north or south of the

equator.

• Longitude lines show us how far a location sits east or west of the

equator. • Using one latitude and one longitude line we can pinpoint any

location on the planet.

Latitude and Longitude – step-by-

step

Step 1: Locate the Equator.Step 2: Move north or south the number of

degrees of latitude. Hold the spot.Step 3: Locate the Prime Meridian.Step 4: Move east or west the number of

degrees of longitude. Hold the spot.Step 5: Find where these two lines intersect

(meet). REMEMBER, THE EARTH CURVES!

Example: 30o S latitude, 135o E longitude

Step 1: Locate the Equator.

Step 2: Move north or south the number of degrees latitude. Hold the spot.

Step 3: Locate the Prime Meridian.

Step 4: Move east or west the number of degrees of longitude. Hold the spot.

Step 5: Find where these two lines intersect (meet). REMEMBER, THE EARTH CURVES!

Point: 30 o S latitude, 135o E longitude!

(Australia)

Let’s Try: 45o N latitude, 105o E longitude

Let’s Try: 45o N latitude, 105o E longitude

Let’s Try: 30o S latitude, 60o W longitude

Let’s Try: 30o S latitude, 60o W longitude

Let’s Try: 30o N latitude, 75o E longitude

Let’s Try: 30o N latitude, 75o E longitude