Consider the following statements 1 All the Parallels Latitudes on the Earth are of the same length ...........

General Studies ( Prelim) Geography

Consider the following statements:

1. All the Parallels/Latitudes on the Earth are of the same length and have equal distance between them, whereas the length of the Longitude and distance between them decreases towards Pole.

2. Latitudes are used to classify heat zone of the Earth whereas Longitudes are used to measure Time.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect. Latitudes are imaginary parallel lines which make a circle around the Earth. The equator represents the 00 Latitude. All parallel circles from the equator to the poles are called parallels of latitudes. Latitudes are equidistant from each other. As we move away from the equator, the size of the parallels of latitudes decreases. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct. Longitudes on the other hand are imaginary semi-circles and the distance between them decreases steadily polewards until it becomes zero at the poles, where all meridians meet. Figure 1 shows the longitudes (vertical line) and latitudes (horizontal line).

Statement 2 is correct. Based on the heat received from the Sun, the Earth is divided into three heat zones. They are: Torrid Zone, Temperate Zone and Frigid Zone.

Longitudes are used to measure time through the ‘Prime Meridian of Greenwich’. When the sun is at the highest point in the sky at Greenwich, all the places along the meridian will have the same time(noon). As the Earth rotates from west to east, those places east of Greenwich will be ahead of Greenwich time and those to the west will be behind.

Torrid zone - Between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. This zone receives the maximum heat.

Temperate zone - 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. The angle of the sun's rays on the surface of the earth is less therefore it receives less heat than Torrid zone.

Frigid zone - Areas lying between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole in the northern hemisphere and between the Antarctic circle and the South Pole in the southern hemisphere. Here the sun does not rise much above the horizon therefore its rays are always slanting and provide less heat.