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🌐 Chapter 2: Globe – Latitude and Longitude

🔹 1. What is a Globe?

  • A Globe is a miniature model of Earth.

  • Shows countries, continents, oceans in correct shapes and positions.

  • A needle (axis) passes through the globe – tilted like the Earth's axis.

🧠 Earth spins on its axis from west to east.

🔹 2. Important Terms

Term Meaning
Axis Imaginary line through North and South Poles
Equator Imaginary line dividing Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Poles North Pole and South Pole – fixed points at top and bottom
Latitude Horizontal lines drawn parallel to Equator
Longitude Vertical lines from North to South Pole

🧭 3. Latitudes – Important Lines

  • Equator (0° latitude): Divides Earth into two hemispheres.

  • Tropic of Cancer (23½° N): Northern Hemisphere

  • Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S): Southern Hemisphere

  • Arctic Circle (66½° N) and Antarctic Circle (66½° S)

📌 There are 181 latitudes including the equator.

🧭 4. Longitudes – Meridians

  • Lines running from North to South Pole.

  • Prime Meridian (0° longitude): Passes through Greenwich, England.

  • Longitudes help us measure time and location east/west of Greenwich.

  • There are 360 longitudes (180° E + 180° W).

🔹 5. Heat Zones of the Earth

Zone Location Temperature
Torrid Zone Between Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn Hottest Zone
Temperate Between Tropic and Arctic/Antarctic Circles Moderate Climate
Frigid Beyond Arctic and Antarctic Circles Coldest Zone

⏰ 6. Longitude and Time

  • Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours → 15° per hour

  • Each 1° = 4 minutes

  • India's Standard Meridian: 82½° E

    • Time = 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT

📌 Country with most time zones: Russia (11 time zones)

🗺️ 7. Types of Directions

  • Cardinal Directions: North, South, East, West

  • Intermediate Directions: NE, NW, SE, SW

  • Compass: Tool used to find directions (magnetic needle points north)

🎯 Visual Aid Summary

 

              North Pole (90° N)
                  |
       Arctic Circle (66½° N)
                  |
      Tropic of Cancer (23½° N)
                  |
        Equator (0° latitude)
                  |
      Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S)
                  |
     Antarctic Circle (66½° S)
                  |
              South Pole (90° S)

🧠 Quick Facts to Memorize

  • Equator = 0° latitude

  • Prime Meridian = 0° longitude

  • India’s Standard Time = 82½° E → GMT +5:30

  • Torrid Zone is the hottest; Frigid Zone is the coldest

❓ MCQ Practice (Try These)

  1. The line of latitude for the Antarctic Circle is:
    ➤ (a) 23½° N (b) 66½° S ✅

  2. The Temperate Zone lies between:
    ➤ (d) 23½° N – 66½° N ✅

  3. India's Standard Meridian:
    ➤ (b) 82½° E ✅

  4. Tool to find direction:
    ➤ (c) Compass ✅

✅ Homework for Today

  1. ✍️ Draw a labeled diagram of Earth's heat zones.

  2. 🔁 Revise all key latitudes & longitudes.

  3. 🧩 Solve 5 MCQs from this chapter.

  4. 🗺️ Practice finding time difference using longitudes.