Question

What term is used for the imaginary east-west horizontal lines on the earth which are parallel to the equator?
A) Parallels
B) Meridians
C) International date line
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Latitudes and longitudes are angular units that provide a particular geographical identity of a position on the surface of the earth. The scales east or west of the Prime Meridian are longitudes, and they extend from the North Pole to the South Pole. The connection between the Earth, the Sun, and the atmosphere can be explained by five major parallels.

Complete answer:
Parallels: Latitude is the altitude measurement to the north or south of the Equator. It is determined by 180 imaginary lines forming arcs east-west around the Earth, parallel to the Equator. Such lines are referred to as parallels. One degree of latitude, defined as an arc degree, spans about 111 kilometers (69 miles).

Meridians: Longitude is determined by imaginary lines which vertically (up and down) run around the Earth and meet at the North and South Poles. Such lines are referred to as meridians. Each meridian measures one degree of longitude per arc. It measures a span of 360 degrees across the Planet. The meridian passing through Greenwich, England, is known globally as the 0 degree longitude line, or prime meridian. The Anti meridian is at 180 degrees, halfway around the planet. That is the basis of the International Line of Dates.

International Date Line: The International Date Line, also known as the Date Line, is an arbitrary line between the North Pole and the South Pole, one calendar day being randomly demarcated from the next. It passes through the Pacific Ocean to the 180th meridian of longitude for much of its range but deviates eastward across the Bering Strait to avoid separating Siberia and then deviates westward to include Alaska with the Aleutian Islands. Another eastward divergence south of the Equator causes those island groups to get the same day as New Zealand.

All parallel circles from the equator to the poles forming arcs from east-west are known as latitudinal parallels. The reference lines extending from the North Pole to the South Pole are called longitude meridians.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note:
i) The eastern longitude of 82o30 is taken as India's Standard Time Meridian as it travels through the center of India (Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh).
ii) The Tropic of Cancer (23.4° North of Equator) is the main latitude parallel that passes through India. Eight states of India pass through this latitude, namely Gujarat, Mizoram, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
iii) The day and date shift when you cross the International Date Line. The day goes ahead by one, and the day changes by one if you cross it going westward. The opposite occurs if you cross it going eastward.