Does the globe go through the line of latitude?

Answer 1

The equator IS a line of latitude. It is zero degrees latitude. It "cuts" across the lines of longitude that run from pole to pole. Here is a mnemonic that will help you remember: A ladder has rungs that you step up onto. The rungs are parallel to the earth. Think Ladder--- ladda-- lati--- ladder-tude-- latitude. They go across, as if you could step on them like a ladder. The lines of longitude are the ones that go from pole to pole and back around. They are all loooong... They are all about the same length, in fact. Pole-to-pole circles-- Longitude. === === MY CONFUSION AS A KID:

Maybe your question is addressing the same confusion that I had when I was a kid, and learning about this. I was thinking about the lines themselves, (take the equator as an example) and thinking about them as if there are like rulers. So I thought, if the equator is measuring something, what could it be? If the equator is measuring the way a ruler measures things, then the equator would have to be measuring the distance between... the degrees of longitude?? So the equator represents longitude?? But this isn't right at all.

This is the key-- the equator isn't like a ruler. The lines of latitude and longitude on a map are not rulers. They are the measurements themselves. Take a plain piece of paper and draw a line across the bottom, from left to right, and put the line one inch up from the bottom edge. You could make believe that the line is your "latitude of one inch". It's "one inch" all the way across the paper. It never stops being "one inch". You can do the same with lines 2 inches up, and 3 inches up-- you get the idea. You aren't marking off any divisions on these lines-- these lines just tell you how high up you are. If you are on your "3 inch" line, you are at a latitude of 3 inches no matter where you are on the line. As long as you're on the line, you are at your make-believe latitude of "3 inches".

Now imagine that you are a Planet-Elf "standing inside the earth, at the very center. Imagine the earth with the north pole going straight up. If you look straight out, you will be looking straight toward the equator, zero degrees latitude. It doesn't make any difference what way (left or right) you are facing. If you are looking straight forward, you are looking at the equator. Turn around all you want; you'll still be looking right at the equator. Now if you look up, half-way between "straight forward" and "straight up", you will be looking at 45 degrees north latitude. See? Now imagine that you position yourself so that you are looking at Greenwich, England. This time, you can't turn to the left or right, but you can look up or down as far as you can, all you want. You are looking at zero degrees longitude. If you can keep looking up or down, without turning to the left or right, you can even see the International Date Line. (Because the International Date Line is behind you, it's called 180 degrees longitude, but it's the same circle that cuts through Greenwich). So the lines of latitude and longitude can work together, and if you know both, you can find any spot on the globe. Just remember that they do not Measure each other. The lines are the measurements themselves. The equator IS the line of "zero" latitude. Therefore, it runs parallel to the lines of latitude, and does not "go through" any line of latitude, but the line of zero latitude lies on the equator. On the other hand, it runs perpendicular to all the lines of longitude, and therefore "goes through" all lines of longitude.j3h. Answer 4 :: i always think: lat (itude) flat ;; because they rhyme ;; so latitude are the lines that run parallel (or flat!) :]

Answer 2

The question reveals a huge lack of clarity on the concept. "Lines" of latitude

are imaginary lines thought of as being drawn on the surface of the globe.