Geography: Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zones
Using map lines to locate places and understand time differences
Geography: Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zones
Using map lines to locate places and understand time differences
Social Studies - Grade 4-5
- 1
What is latitude? Describe how latitude lines are shown on a map or globe.
Think about the Equator as the starting line for latitude.
Latitude measures distance north or south of the Equator. Latitude lines run east and west across a map or globe, but they tell how far north or south a place is. - 2
What is longitude? Describe how longitude lines are shown on a map or globe.
Longitude measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Longitude lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole, but they tell how far east or west a place is. - 3
A city is located at 30 degrees north latitude and 90 degrees west longitude. Is the city north or south of the Equator? Is it east or west of the Prime Meridian?
Look at the letters N and W in the location.
The city is north of the Equator because its latitude is 30 degrees north. It is west of the Prime Meridian because its longitude is 90 degrees west. - 4
A place is located at 15 degrees south latitude and 45 degrees east longitude. Name the two hemispheres where this place is located.
The place is in the Southern Hemisphere because it is 15 degrees south of the Equator. It is also in the Eastern Hemisphere because it is 45 degrees east of the Prime Meridian. - 5
The Equator is located at 0 degrees latitude. Explain why a place on the Equator is not in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere.
A dividing line separates two areas but does not belong only to one side.
A place on the Equator is not in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere because the Equator is the dividing line between them. It is at 0 degrees latitude. - 6
The Prime Meridian is located at 0 degrees longitude. Explain why it is important for finding locations.
The Prime Meridian is important because it is the starting line for measuring longitude. It helps people describe whether a place is east or west on Earth. - 7
A map grid shows point A at 40 degrees north latitude and 75 degrees west longitude. Point B is at 40 degrees north latitude and 120 degrees west longitude. How are the two points alike, and how are they different?
Compare the latitude numbers first, then compare the longitude numbers.
The two points are alike because they have the same latitude, so they are the same distance north of the Equator. They are different because point A and point B have different longitudes, so they are different distances west of the Prime Meridian. - 8
A map grid shows point C at 10 degrees south latitude and 20 degrees east longitude. Point D is at 35 degrees south latitude and 20 degrees east longitude. How are the two points alike, and how are they different?
The two points are alike because they have the same longitude, so they are the same distance east of the Prime Meridian. They are different because point C and point D have different latitudes, so they are different distances south of the Equator. - 9
Earth is divided into time zones because it rotates. In general, places farther east have a later time than places farther west. If it is 2:00 p.m. in a city and a city to the east is 2 time zones ahead, what time is it in the eastern city?
Ahead means you add hours.
It is 4:00 p.m. in the eastern city because the city is 2 time zones ahead, so 2 hours are added to 2:00 p.m. - 10
If it is 9:00 a.m. in one city and another city to the west is 3 time zones behind, what time is it in the western city?
It is 6:00 a.m. in the western city because the city is 3 time zones behind, so 3 hours are subtracted from 9:00 a.m. - 11
New York is in the Eastern Time Zone, and Chicago is in the Central Time Zone. Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time. If it is 5:30 p.m. in New York, what time is it in Chicago?
Behind means you subtract time.
It is 4:30 p.m. in Chicago because Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time. - 12
Los Angeles is in the Pacific Time Zone, and New York is in the Eastern Time Zone. Eastern Time is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time. If it is 8:15 a.m. in Los Angeles, what time is it in New York?
It is 11:15 a.m. in New York because Eastern Time is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time.