Which of the following statements with reference to lines of latitudes is/are correct ? 1. The distance between two successive latitudes changes slightly from the equator to the poles. 2. If parallels of latitude are drawn at an interval of one degree, the total number of parallels thus drawn, including the equator, will be 179. Select the answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Both 1 and 2. The Earth is slightly flattened at the poles, and the poles themselves are points, not lines.
Because the Earth is an oblate spheroid, a degree of latitude is a little shorter at the equator, about 110.6 km, than near the poles, about 111.7 km. So the gap between successive parallels changes slightly, though it is usually rounded to 111 km. For statement 2, drawing parallels at every degree gives 89 in the Northern Hemisphere (1° to 89° N) and 89 in the Southern Hemisphere. The 90° N and 90° S positions are the poles, which are points. Adding the equator gives 89 + 89 + 1 = 179 parallels.
Option A is wrong because statement 2 is also correct. Option B is wrong because the length of a degree of latitude does vary a little with the flattening of the Earth. Option D is wrong because both statements hold.
Exam tip: 179 parallels of latitude (poles are points) but 360 meridians of longitude; 1° latitude is about 111 km.
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