CH-2 Parallels and Meridians:

What Is a Globe?
A globe is a small round model of the Earth. It shows us different countries, continents, oceans, and
places on Earth.
But how do we find any place on a globe?
We use a system of imaginary lines called latitudes and longitudes.
Imaginary Lines: Latitudes and Longitudes
These are not real lines — they are drawn on maps and globes to help us find locations:
 Latitudes (or Parallels): Run horizontally (left to right or east to west).
 Longitudes (or Meridians): Run vertically (up and down or north to south).
The lines of longitude meet at two points:
 At the top = North Pole
 At the bottom = South Pole
Parallels of Latitude
Look at the lines going from east to west on a globe. These are called parallels or lines of latitude.
Here's what you need to know:
The Equator:
 The equator is an imaginary line that goes around the middle of the Earth.
 It divides the Earth into two halves:
o Northern Hemisphere (above the equator)
o Southern Hemisphere (below the equator)
Interesting Facts about Parallels:
 There are 181 parallels.
 The equator is the longest parallel.
 The equator is also called the Great Circle.
 As you go away from the equator towards the poles, the length of the parallels becomes
shorter.
 Parallels are like rings around the Earth — all are equal distance apart.
 The North Pole and South Pole are not full circles; they are just points.
 Parallels never meet each other — they stay the same distance apart.
Example to Imagine:

Think of the Earth like an orange. If you tie strings around it from side to side, each string is
like a parallel. The one in the middle (equator) is the widest. As you move up or down the
 orange, the strings (parallels) become smaller circles until they become just points at the top
and bottom.

Worksheet:1
A. Fill in the blanks
1. The __________ is the longest line of latitude.
2. Lines that run from east to west on the globe are called __________.
3. The point at the top of the Earth where longitudes meet is called the __________.
4. The Earth is divided into two halves by the __________.
5. There are __________ parallels of latitude.
B. Choose the correct answer (MCQs)
1. Which line divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
a) Prime Meridian
b) Tropic of Cancer
c) Equator
d) Arctic Circle
2. What are the lines of latitude also called?
a) Meridians
b) Equators
c) Parallels
d) Hemispheres
3. The parallels become __________ as they move away from the equator.
a) longer
b) wider
c) shorter
d) equal
C. Answer in one sentence
1. What is a globe?
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2. Why is the equator important?

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3. Do parallels ever meet? Why or why not?

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D. Critical Thinking
Imagine you are traveling from the equator to the North Pole. What changes will you notice in the
lengths of the parallels as you go north?
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LATITUDES (Parallels)
What Are Latitudes?
Latitudes are imaginary lines that run east to west around the Earth. They are also called parallels.
These lines help us measure how far north or south a place is from the equator (the middle of the
Earth).
Numbering of Latitudes
 The equator is labelled as 0° latitude.
 Latitudes are numbered from 0° to 90°:
o From the equator to the North Pole → 0° to 90°N
o From the equator to the South Pole → 0° to 90°S
 So there are:
o 90 latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere
o 90 latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere
 Total: 181 latitudes (including the equator).
 These lines are spaced 1° apart.
Important Parallels of Latitude
Some latitudes are more important because they help us divide the Earth into climate zones:

Name Latitude

Equator 0°

Tropic of Cancer 23½° North (23.5°N)

Tropic of Capricorn 23½° South (23.5°S)

Arctic Circle 66½° North (66.5°N)

Antarctic Circle 66½° South (66.5°S)

North Pole 90°N

South Pole 90°S

These lines help us understand Earth's climate, seasons, and daylight patterns.
MCQs – Practice Questions
1. A sailor travels around the Earth. On which one of the following imaginary lines does he take
the longest time to complete the trip?
(a) Equator
Why? Because the equator is the longest circle around Earth.
2. Which one of the following latitudes is closer to the equator?
(c) 5°S
Why? It is the smallest number and just slightly south of the equator (0°).
MERIDIANS OF LONGITUDE
What Are Longitudes?
 Longitudes are imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole (top to
bottom).
 They are also called meridians.
Facts About Meridians
 All meridians are equal in length.
 They help us measure east or west positions on Earth.
 Meridians cut the parallels (latitudes) at right angles (90°).
 Unlike latitudes, meridians are not parallel — they meet at the poles.
 The main meridian is called the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), which passes through
Greenwich, England.
Worksheet: 2 -Latitudes and Longitudes
Fill in the Blanks
1. Latitudes are also called __________.
2. The equator is marked as __________ degrees latitude.
3. The __________ is the longest line of latitude.
4. There are __________ parallels in the Northern Hemisphere.
5. The line of longitude at 0° is called the __________.
6. Meridians meet at the __________ and __________.
7. The Tropic of Capricorn lies at __________° South.
8. Meridians cut the parallels at __________ angles.
Match the Following

A B

1. Tropic of Cancer a. 0° Latitude

2. Equator b. 23½° South

3. Prime Meridian c. 66½° North

A B

4. Tropic of Capricorn d. 0° Longitude

5. Arctic Circle e. 23½° North

True or False
1. There are 180 lines of latitude in total. (___)
2. The Antarctic Circle lies in the Northern Hemisphere. (___)
3. Meridians run from east to west. (___)
4. The Equator divides the Earth into two equal halves. (___)
5. All meridians are the same length. (___)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which one of the following is the longest line of latitude?
a) Tropic of Cancer
b) Equator
c) Arctic Circle
d) Antarctic Circle
2. Which parallel lies at 66½° South?
a) Tropic of Capricorn
b) Antarctic Circle
c) Arctic Circle
d) South Pole
3. How many degrees are there between the equator and either pole?
a) 45°
b) 90°
c) 180°
d) 60°
4. Which line passes through Greenwich, England?
a) Tropic of Capricorn
b) Prime Meridian
c) Equator
d) Arctic Circle
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the difference between latitudes and longitudes?
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2. Why is the equator considered the most important line of latitude?

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 3. How do meridians help in measuring location?
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4. Name any four important parallels of latitude.

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Critical Thinking Questions: Parallels and Meridians

[Link] do you think the equator is warmer than the poles? Hint: Think about how sunlight hits
different parts of the Earth.
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[Link] two cities are located on the same latitude but different longitudes, do they have the same
climate? Why or why not?Hint: Consider other factors like oceans, altitude, or distance from the
equator.
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[Link] do planes flying long distances often follow curved paths instead of flying straight along
latitude or longitude lines? Hint: Think about the shape of the Earth and the shortest distance
between two points.
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[Link] you're standing at 0° latitude and 0° longitude. Where are you? What might you see
around you? Hint: Use your knowledge of the Equator and Prime Meridian.
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[Link] do time zones change as we move along longitudes and not latitudes?
Hint: Think about Earth’s rotation and how day and night occur.
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[Link] would happen if the Earth didn’t have latitudes and longitudes? How would we find
locations?Hint: Consider maps, GPS, travel, and navigation.
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Meridians, Prime Meridian & Locating Places

What Are Meridians (Longitudes)?
Meridians are imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole.
They are also called lines of longitude.
 Meridians help us measure how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian.
 Unlike latitudes, meridians are not parallel — they meet at both poles.
 All meridians are equal in length.
 They cut across latitudes at right angles (90°).
Prime Meridian (0° Longitude)
 The Prime Meridian is the starting point for measuring longitudes.
 It is marked as 0° and passes through Greenwich, near London, UK.
 It divides the Earth into two halves:
o Eastern Hemisphere (0° to 180°E)
o Western Hemisphere (0° to 180°W)
 There are 180 meridians to the east and 180 meridians to the west, making 360 meridians
in total.
International Date Line (180° Longitude)
 This is the line exactly opposite the Prime Meridian (180°).
 It runs mostly through the Pacific Ocean.
 It separates one calendar day from the next.
 If you cross it:
o From west to east: you go back a day.
o From east to west: you move ahead a day.
How Are Meridians Spaced?
 Meridians are drawn at 1° intervals — one for each degree in a full circle (360°).
 At the equator, the distance between two meridians is widest.
 As you go toward the poles, the distance between meridians gets smaller until they meet.
Locating Places on the Earth (Using the Grid)
 The parallels (latitudes) and meridians (longitudes) form a grid on the globe.
 A grid is a pattern of crossing lines.
 The point where a latitude and longitude cross tells us the exact location of a place.
 For example:
o 0° latitude and 0° longitude is in the Atlantic Ocean near Africa.
o 28°N, 77°E is New Delhi, India.
Why Is This Important?
 Without this system, we would not be able to find or describe locations accurately.
 It is used in maps, GPS systems, navigation, flights, and even weather forecasting.
Key Terms Summary

Term Meaning

Poles Top and bottom points of Earth’s axis (North & South)

Parallels Lines of latitude (east–west)

Meridians Lines of longitude (north–south)

Prime Meridian 0° longitude, passes through Greenwich

International Date Line 180° line that separates calendar dates

Grid Network of latitude and longitude lines on the globe

Worksheet: Understanding Meridians and Locating Places

Fill in the Blanks
1. The Prime Meridian passes through __________.
2. A full circle on Earth is divided into __________ degrees.
3. The meridian at 180° East and 180° West is called the __________.
4. The network formed by lines of latitude and longitude on the globe is called a __________.
5. The maximum distance between any two meridians is at the __________.
Match the Following

A B

1. Prime Meridian a. Top or bottom point of Earth

2. Poles b. 0° Longitude

3. Meridians c. Run from north to south

4. International Date
d. 180° longitude
Line

5. Grid e. Helps in locating places

True or False
1. The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres. (___)
2. Meridians meet at the poles. (___)
3. The distance between meridians increases as you move toward the poles. (___)
4. There is a total of 360 meridians on Earth. (___)
5. The grid on the globe is made up of only longitudes. (___)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The Prime Meridian passes through:
a) New York
b) Greenwich
c) Tokyo
d) Mumbai
2. Which of the following is the same line?
a) 90°E and 90°W
b) 180°E and 180°W
c) 0° and 180°
d) 60°N and 60°S
3. What do we call the network of latitudes and longitudes?
a) Meridian
b) Hemisphere
c) Grid
d) Axis
4. How many meridians are drawn at 1° intervals?
a) 90
b) 180
c) 360
d) 120
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the International Date Line?
 2. Why is the Prime Meridian important for measuring longitude?
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3. What happens to the distance between meridians as we move away from the equator?
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4. How does the grid help in locating places on Earth?

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Critical Thinking Questions

1. Why is it important for every place on Earth to have a latitude and a longitude? How does this
help in modern technology like GPS?
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2. Imagine you are a pilot. How would knowing the grid system help you fly safely from one
country to another?
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3. If the International Date Line marks the change of date, what could happen if there were no
such line and people traveled across time zones frequently?
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