Page 1
Figure 2.1 : Globe
Let’s Do
Take a big round
potato or a ball.
Pierce a knitting
needle through it. The
needle resembles the axis
shown in a globe. You can
now move the potato or the
ball around this axis from
left to right.
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
2
2
In the previous chapter, you have read that our planet
earth is not a sphere. It is slightly flattened at the
North and the South Poles and bulge in the middle.
Can you imagine how it looks? You may look at a
globe carefully in your classroom to get an idea.
Globe is a true model (miniature form) of the earth
(Figure 2.1).
Globes may be of varying size and type – big ones,
which cannot be carried easily, small pocket globes,
and globe-like balloons, which can be inflated and are
handy and carried with ease. The globe is not fixed. It
can be rotated the same way as a top spin or a potter’s
wheel is rotated. On the globe, countries, continents
and oceans are shown in their correct size.
It is difficult to describe the location of a point on a
sphere like the earth. Now the question arises as to
how to locate a place on it? We need certain points of
reference and lines to find out the location of places.
You will notice that a needle is fixed through the
globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis. Two
points on the globe through which the needle passes
are two poles – North Pole and South Pole. The globe
can be moved around this needle from west to east
just as the earth moves. But, remember there is a major
difference. The real earth has no such needle. It moves
around its axis, which is an imaginary line.
Another imaginary line running on the globe divides
it into two equal parts. This line is known as the
equator. The northern half of the earth is known as
the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is
known as the Southern Hemisphere. They are both
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 2
Figure 2.1 : Globe
Let’s Do
Take a big round
potato or a ball.
Pierce a knitting
needle through it. The
needle resembles the axis
shown in a globe. You can
now move the potato or the
ball around this axis from
left to right.
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
2
2
In the previous chapter, you have read that our planet
earth is not a sphere. It is slightly flattened at the
North and the South Poles and bulge in the middle.
Can you imagine how it looks? You may look at a
globe carefully in your classroom to get an idea.
Globe is a true model (miniature form) of the earth
(Figure 2.1).
Globes may be of varying size and type – big ones,
which cannot be carried easily, small pocket globes,
and globe-like balloons, which can be inflated and are
handy and carried with ease. The globe is not fixed. It
can be rotated the same way as a top spin or a potter’s
wheel is rotated. On the globe, countries, continents
and oceans are shown in their correct size.
It is difficult to describe the location of a point on a
sphere like the earth. Now the question arises as to
how to locate a place on it? We need certain points of
reference and lines to find out the location of places.
You will notice that a needle is fixed through the
globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis. Two
points on the globe through which the needle passes
are two poles – North Pole and South Pole. The globe
can be moved around this needle from west to east
just as the earth moves. But, remember there is a major
difference. The real earth has no such needle. It moves
around its axis, which is an imaginary line.
Another imaginary line running on the globe divides
it into two equal parts. This line is known as the
equator. The northern half of the earth is known as
the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is
known as the Southern Hemisphere. They are both
Rationalised 2023-24
11
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
Figure 2.2 : Latitude
Figure 2.3 : Important Latitudes and Heat Zones
Do you know?
By measuring
the angle of the
Pole Star from
your place, you can know
the latitude of your place.
equal halves. Therefore, the equator is an
imaginary circular line and is a very
important reference point to locate places
on the earth. All parallel circles from the
equator up to the poles are called parallels
of latitudes. Latitudes are measured in
degrees.
The equator represents the zero degree
latitude. Since the distance from the
equator to either of the poles is one-fourth
of a circle round the earth, it will measure
¼
th
of 360 degrees, i.e. 90°. Thus, 90
degrees north latitude marks the North
Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks
the South Pole.
As such, all parallels north of the
equator are called ‘north latitudes.’
Similarly all parallels south of the equator are called
‘south latitudes.’
The value of each latitude is, therefore, followed by
either the word north or south. Generally, this is
indicated by the letter ‘N’ or ‘S’. For example, both
Chandrapur in Maharashtra (India) and Belo
Horizonte in Brazil (South America) are located on
parallels of about 20° latitude. But the former is 20°
north of the equator and the latter is 20° south of it.
We, therefore, say that Chandrapur is
situated at 20° N latitude and Belo
Horizonte is situated at 20° S latitude.
We see in Figure 2.2 that as we move
away from the equator, the size of the
parallels of latitude decreases.
IMPORTANT PARALLELS OF LATITUDES
Besides the equator (0°), the North Pole
(90°N) and the South Pole (90° S), there
are four important parallels of latitudes–
(i) Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the
Northern Hemisphere. (ii) Tropic of
Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern
Hemisphere. (iii) Arctic Circle at 66½°
north of the equator. (iv) Antarctic
Circle at 66½° south of the equator.
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 3
Figure 2.1 : Globe
Let’s Do
Take a big round
potato or a ball.
Pierce a knitting
needle through it. The
needle resembles the axis
shown in a globe. You can
now move the potato or the
ball around this axis from
left to right.
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
2
2
In the previous chapter, you have read that our planet
earth is not a sphere. It is slightly flattened at the
North and the South Poles and bulge in the middle.
Can you imagine how it looks? You may look at a
globe carefully in your classroom to get an idea.
Globe is a true model (miniature form) of the earth
(Figure 2.1).
Globes may be of varying size and type – big ones,
which cannot be carried easily, small pocket globes,
and globe-like balloons, which can be inflated and are
handy and carried with ease. The globe is not fixed. It
can be rotated the same way as a top spin or a potter’s
wheel is rotated. On the globe, countries, continents
and oceans are shown in their correct size.
It is difficult to describe the location of a point on a
sphere like the earth. Now the question arises as to
how to locate a place on it? We need certain points of
reference and lines to find out the location of places.
You will notice that a needle is fixed through the
globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis. Two
points on the globe through which the needle passes
are two poles – North Pole and South Pole. The globe
can be moved around this needle from west to east
just as the earth moves. But, remember there is a major
difference. The real earth has no such needle. It moves
around its axis, which is an imaginary line.
Another imaginary line running on the globe divides
it into two equal parts. This line is known as the
equator. The northern half of the earth is known as
the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is
known as the Southern Hemisphere. They are both
Rationalised 2023-24
11
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
Figure 2.2 : Latitude
Figure 2.3 : Important Latitudes and Heat Zones
Do you know?
By measuring
the angle of the
Pole Star from
your place, you can know
the latitude of your place.
equal halves. Therefore, the equator is an
imaginary circular line and is a very
important reference point to locate places
on the earth. All parallel circles from the
equator up to the poles are called parallels
of latitudes. Latitudes are measured in
degrees.
The equator represents the zero degree
latitude. Since the distance from the
equator to either of the poles is one-fourth
of a circle round the earth, it will measure
¼
th
of 360 degrees, i.e. 90°. Thus, 90
degrees north latitude marks the North
Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks
the South Pole.
As such, all parallels north of the
equator are called ‘north latitudes.’
Similarly all parallels south of the equator are called
‘south latitudes.’
The value of each latitude is, therefore, followed by
either the word north or south. Generally, this is
indicated by the letter ‘N’ or ‘S’. For example, both
Chandrapur in Maharashtra (India) and Belo
Horizonte in Brazil (South America) are located on
parallels of about 20° latitude. But the former is 20°
north of the equator and the latter is 20° south of it.
We, therefore, say that Chandrapur is
situated at 20° N latitude and Belo
Horizonte is situated at 20° S latitude.
We see in Figure 2.2 that as we move
away from the equator, the size of the
parallels of latitude decreases.
IMPORTANT PARALLELS OF LATITUDES
Besides the equator (0°), the North Pole
(90°N) and the South Pole (90° S), there
are four important parallels of latitudes–
(i) Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the
Northern Hemisphere. (ii) Tropic of
Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern
Hemisphere. (iii) Arctic Circle at 66½°
north of the equator. (iv) Antarctic
Circle at 66½° south of the equator.
Rationalised 2023-24
12
THE EARTH : OUR HABITAT
Figure 2.4 : (b)
Torch-light falling on a slanted
surface is less bright but covers a
bigger area.
Figure 2.5 : Longitudes
Figure 2.4 : (a)
Torch-light falling on a straight
surface is bright and covers a
smaller area.
HEAT ZONES OF THE EARTH
The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at
least once a year on all latitudes in
between the Tropic of Cancer and the
Tropic of Capricorn. This area, therefore,
receives the maximum heat and is called
the Torrid Zone.
The mid-day sun never shines
overhead on any latitude beyond the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn. The angle of the sun’s rays
goes on decreasing towards the poles. As
such, the areas bounded by the Tropic
of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the
Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of
Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle in the
Southern Hemisphere, have moderate
temperatures. These are, therefore, called
Temperate Zones.
Areas lying between the Arctic Circle
and the North Pole in the Northern
Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle and
the South Pole in the Southern
Hemisphere, are very cold. It is because
here the sun does not rise much above
the horizon. Therefore, its rays are
always slanting and provide less heat.
These are, therefore, called Frigid
Zones (very cold).
WHAT ARE LONGITUDES?
To fix the position of a place, it is
necessary to know something more
than the latitude of that place. You
can see, for example, that Tonga
Islands (in the Pacific Ocean) and
Mauritius Islands (in the Indian
Ocean) are situated on the same
latitude (i.e., 20° S). Now, in order to
locate them precisely, we must find
out how far east or west these places
are from a given line of reference
running from the North Pole to the
South Pole. These lines of references
are called the meridians of longitude,
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 4
Figure 2.1 : Globe
Let’s Do
Take a big round
potato or a ball.
Pierce a knitting
needle through it. The
needle resembles the axis
shown in a globe. You can
now move the potato or the
ball around this axis from
left to right.
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
2
2
In the previous chapter, you have read that our planet
earth is not a sphere. It is slightly flattened at the
North and the South Poles and bulge in the middle.
Can you imagine how it looks? You may look at a
globe carefully in your classroom to get an idea.
Globe is a true model (miniature form) of the earth
(Figure 2.1).
Globes may be of varying size and type – big ones,
which cannot be carried easily, small pocket globes,
and globe-like balloons, which can be inflated and are
handy and carried with ease. The globe is not fixed. It
can be rotated the same way as a top spin or a potter’s
wheel is rotated. On the globe, countries, continents
and oceans are shown in their correct size.
It is difficult to describe the location of a point on a
sphere like the earth. Now the question arises as to
how to locate a place on it? We need certain points of
reference and lines to find out the location of places.
You will notice that a needle is fixed through the
globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis. Two
points on the globe through which the needle passes
are two poles – North Pole and South Pole. The globe
can be moved around this needle from west to east
just as the earth moves. But, remember there is a major
difference. The real earth has no such needle. It moves
around its axis, which is an imaginary line.
Another imaginary line running on the globe divides
it into two equal parts. This line is known as the
equator. The northern half of the earth is known as
the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is
known as the Southern Hemisphere. They are both
Rationalised 2023-24
11
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
Figure 2.2 : Latitude
Figure 2.3 : Important Latitudes and Heat Zones
Do you know?
By measuring
the angle of the
Pole Star from
your place, you can know
the latitude of your place.
equal halves. Therefore, the equator is an
imaginary circular line and is a very
important reference point to locate places
on the earth. All parallel circles from the
equator up to the poles are called parallels
of latitudes. Latitudes are measured in
degrees.
The equator represents the zero degree
latitude. Since the distance from the
equator to either of the poles is one-fourth
of a circle round the earth, it will measure
¼
th
of 360 degrees, i.e. 90°. Thus, 90
degrees north latitude marks the North
Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks
the South Pole.
As such, all parallels north of the
equator are called ‘north latitudes.’
Similarly all parallels south of the equator are called
‘south latitudes.’
The value of each latitude is, therefore, followed by
either the word north or south. Generally, this is
indicated by the letter ‘N’ or ‘S’. For example, both
Chandrapur in Maharashtra (India) and Belo
Horizonte in Brazil (South America) are located on
parallels of about 20° latitude. But the former is 20°
north of the equator and the latter is 20° south of it.
We, therefore, say that Chandrapur is
situated at 20° N latitude and Belo
Horizonte is situated at 20° S latitude.
We see in Figure 2.2 that as we move
away from the equator, the size of the
parallels of latitude decreases.
IMPORTANT PARALLELS OF LATITUDES
Besides the equator (0°), the North Pole
(90°N) and the South Pole (90° S), there
are four important parallels of latitudes–
(i) Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the
Northern Hemisphere. (ii) Tropic of
Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern
Hemisphere. (iii) Arctic Circle at 66½°
north of the equator. (iv) Antarctic
Circle at 66½° south of the equator.
Rationalised 2023-24
12
THE EARTH : OUR HABITAT
Figure 2.4 : (b)
Torch-light falling on a slanted
surface is less bright but covers a
bigger area.
Figure 2.5 : Longitudes
Figure 2.4 : (a)
Torch-light falling on a straight
surface is bright and covers a
smaller area.
HEAT ZONES OF THE EARTH
The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at
least once a year on all latitudes in
between the Tropic of Cancer and the
Tropic of Capricorn. This area, therefore,
receives the maximum heat and is called
the Torrid Zone.
The mid-day sun never shines
overhead on any latitude beyond the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn. The angle of the sun’s rays
goes on decreasing towards the poles. As
such, the areas bounded by the Tropic
of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the
Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of
Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle in the
Southern Hemisphere, have moderate
temperatures. These are, therefore, called
Temperate Zones.
Areas lying between the Arctic Circle
and the North Pole in the Northern
Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle and
the South Pole in the Southern
Hemisphere, are very cold. It is because
here the sun does not rise much above
the horizon. Therefore, its rays are
always slanting and provide less heat.
These are, therefore, called Frigid
Zones (very cold).
WHAT ARE LONGITUDES?
To fix the position of a place, it is
necessary to know something more
than the latitude of that place. You
can see, for example, that Tonga
Islands (in the Pacific Ocean) and
Mauritius Islands (in the Indian
Ocean) are situated on the same
latitude (i.e., 20° S). Now, in order to
locate them precisely, we must find
out how far east or west these places
are from a given line of reference
running from the North Pole to the
South Pole. These lines of references
are called the meridians of longitude,
Rationalised 2023-24
13
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
Figure 2.6 : Grid
Figure 2.7
Let’s Do
Draw a circle.
Let the Prime
meridian divide
it into two equal halves.
Colour and label the
eastern hemisphere and
the western hemisphere.
Similarly draw another
circle and let the equator
divide it into two halves.
Now colour the Northern
hemisphere and Southern
hemisphere.
and the distances between them are measured in
‘degrees of longitude.’ Each degree is further divided
into minutes, and minutes into seconds. They are semi-
circles and the distance between them decreases
steadily polewards until it becomes zero at the poles,
where all the meridians meet.
Unlike parallels of latitude, all meridians are of equal
length. Thus, it was difficult to number the meridians.
Hence, all countries decided that the count should
begin from the meridian which passed through
Greenwich, where the British Royal Observatory is
located. This meridian is called the Prime Meridian.
Its value is 0° longitude and from it we count 180°
eastward as well as 180° westward. The Prime Meridian
and 180° meridian divide the earth into
two equal halves, the Eastern Hemisphere
and the Western Hemisphere. Therefore,
the longitude of a place is followed by the
letter E for the east and W for the west. It
is, however, interesting to note that 180°
East and 180° West meridians are on the
same line.
Now look at the grid of the parallels of
latitude and meridians of longitude on the
globe (Figure 2.6). You can locate any point
on the globe very easily if you know its
latitude and longitude. For example,
Dhubri in Assam is situated at 26° N
latitude and 90° E longitude. Find out the
point where these two lines cut each other.
That point will be the location of Dhubri.
To understand this clearly draw equidistant vertical
and horizontal lines on a paper (Figure 2.7). Label the
vertical rows with numbers and horizontal rows with
letters, draw some small circles randomly on points
where these horizontal and vertical lines intersect each
other. Name these small circles as a, b, c, d and e.
Let vertical lines represent East Longitudes and
horizontal lines as North Latitudes.
Now you will see that circle ‘a’ is located on B
°
N
latitude and 1
°
E longitude.
Find out the location of other circles.
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 5
Figure 2.1 : Globe
Let’s Do
Take a big round
potato or a ball.
Pierce a knitting
needle through it. The
needle resembles the axis
shown in a globe. You can
now move the potato or the
ball around this axis from
left to right.
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
2
2
In the previous chapter, you have read that our planet
earth is not a sphere. It is slightly flattened at the
North and the South Poles and bulge in the middle.
Can you imagine how it looks? You may look at a
globe carefully in your classroom to get an idea.
Globe is a true model (miniature form) of the earth
(Figure 2.1).
Globes may be of varying size and type – big ones,
which cannot be carried easily, small pocket globes,
and globe-like balloons, which can be inflated and are
handy and carried with ease. The globe is not fixed. It
can be rotated the same way as a top spin or a potter’s
wheel is rotated. On the globe, countries, continents
and oceans are shown in their correct size.
It is difficult to describe the location of a point on a
sphere like the earth. Now the question arises as to
how to locate a place on it? We need certain points of
reference and lines to find out the location of places.
You will notice that a needle is fixed through the
globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis. Two
points on the globe through which the needle passes
are two poles – North Pole and South Pole. The globe
can be moved around this needle from west to east
just as the earth moves. But, remember there is a major
difference. The real earth has no such needle. It moves
around its axis, which is an imaginary line.
Another imaginary line running on the globe divides
it into two equal parts. This line is known as the
equator. The northern half of the earth is known as
the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is
known as the Southern Hemisphere. They are both
Rationalised 2023-24
11
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
Figure 2.2 : Latitude
Figure 2.3 : Important Latitudes and Heat Zones
Do you know?
By measuring
the angle of the
Pole Star from
your place, you can know
the latitude of your place.
equal halves. Therefore, the equator is an
imaginary circular line and is a very
important reference point to locate places
on the earth. All parallel circles from the
equator up to the poles are called parallels
of latitudes. Latitudes are measured in
degrees.
The equator represents the zero degree
latitude. Since the distance from the
equator to either of the poles is one-fourth
of a circle round the earth, it will measure
¼
th
of 360 degrees, i.e. 90°. Thus, 90
degrees north latitude marks the North
Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks
the South Pole.
As such, all parallels north of the
equator are called ‘north latitudes.’
Similarly all parallels south of the equator are called
‘south latitudes.’
The value of each latitude is, therefore, followed by
either the word north or south. Generally, this is
indicated by the letter ‘N’ or ‘S’. For example, both
Chandrapur in Maharashtra (India) and Belo
Horizonte in Brazil (South America) are located on
parallels of about 20° latitude. But the former is 20°
north of the equator and the latter is 20° south of it.
We, therefore, say that Chandrapur is
situated at 20° N latitude and Belo
Horizonte is situated at 20° S latitude.
We see in Figure 2.2 that as we move
away from the equator, the size of the
parallels of latitude decreases.
IMPORTANT PARALLELS OF LATITUDES
Besides the equator (0°), the North Pole
(90°N) and the South Pole (90° S), there
are four important parallels of latitudes–
(i) Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the
Northern Hemisphere. (ii) Tropic of
Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern
Hemisphere. (iii) Arctic Circle at 66½°
north of the equator. (iv) Antarctic
Circle at 66½° south of the equator.
Rationalised 2023-24
12
THE EARTH : OUR HABITAT
Figure 2.4 : (b)
Torch-light falling on a slanted
surface is less bright but covers a
bigger area.
Figure 2.5 : Longitudes
Figure 2.4 : (a)
Torch-light falling on a straight
surface is bright and covers a
smaller area.
HEAT ZONES OF THE EARTH
The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at
least once a year on all latitudes in
between the Tropic of Cancer and the
Tropic of Capricorn. This area, therefore,
receives the maximum heat and is called
the Torrid Zone.
The mid-day sun never shines
overhead on any latitude beyond the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn. The angle of the sun’s rays
goes on decreasing towards the poles. As
such, the areas bounded by the Tropic
of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the
Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of
Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle in the
Southern Hemisphere, have moderate
temperatures. These are, therefore, called
Temperate Zones.
Areas lying between the Arctic Circle
and the North Pole in the Northern
Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle and
the South Pole in the Southern
Hemisphere, are very cold. It is because
here the sun does not rise much above
the horizon. Therefore, its rays are
always slanting and provide less heat.
These are, therefore, called Frigid
Zones (very cold).
WHAT ARE LONGITUDES?
To fix the position of a place, it is
necessary to know something more
than the latitude of that place. You
can see, for example, that Tonga
Islands (in the Pacific Ocean) and
Mauritius Islands (in the Indian
Ocean) are situated on the same
latitude (i.e., 20° S). Now, in order to
locate them precisely, we must find
out how far east or west these places
are from a given line of reference
running from the North Pole to the
South Pole. These lines of references
are called the meridians of longitude,
Rationalised 2023-24
13
GLOBE : LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES
Figure 2.6 : Grid
Figure 2.7
Let’s Do
Draw a circle.
Let the Prime
meridian divide
it into two equal halves.
Colour and label the
eastern hemisphere and
the western hemisphere.
Similarly draw another
circle and let the equator
divide it into two halves.
Now colour the Northern
hemisphere and Southern
hemisphere.
and the distances between them are measured in
‘degrees of longitude.’ Each degree is further divided
into minutes, and minutes into seconds. They are semi-
circles and the distance between them decreases
steadily polewards until it becomes zero at the poles,
where all the meridians meet.
Unlike parallels of latitude, all meridians are of equal
length. Thus, it was difficult to number the meridians.
Hence, all countries decided that the count should
begin from the meridian which passed through
Greenwich, where the British Royal Observatory is
located. This meridian is called the Prime Meridian.
Its value is 0° longitude and from it we count 180°
eastward as well as 180° westward. The Prime Meridian
and 180° meridian divide the earth into
two equal halves, the Eastern Hemisphere
and the Western Hemisphere. Therefore,
the longitude of a place is followed by the
letter E for the east and W for the west. It
is, however, interesting to note that 180°
East and 180° West meridians are on the
same line.
Now look at the grid of the parallels of
latitude and meridians of longitude on the
globe (Figure 2.6). You can locate any point
on the globe very easily if you know its
latitude and longitude. For example,
Dhubri in Assam is situated at 26° N
latitude and 90° E longitude. Find out the
point where these two lines cut each other.
That point will be the location of Dhubri.
To understand this clearly draw equidistant vertical
and horizontal lines on a paper (Figure 2.7). Label the
vertical rows with numbers and horizontal rows with
letters, draw some small circles randomly on points
where these horizontal and vertical lines intersect each
other. Name these small circles as a, b, c, d and e.
Let vertical lines represent East Longitudes and
horizontal lines as North Latitudes.
Now you will see that circle ‘a’ is located on B
°
N
latitude and 1
°
E longitude.
Find out the location of other circles.
Rationalised 2023-24
14
THE EARTH : OUR HABITAT
Figure 2.8 : Time zones of the World
Rationalised 2023-24
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