SS 3 MATHEMATICS 2ND TERM

1. Longitude and Latitude

TOPIC: LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE.

SUB – TOPIC:

(a). Earth as a sphere (b) Identification of :

i. North and South poles.

ii. Longitudes and Latitudes.

iii. Small circles and Great circles.

iv. Meridian and Equator.

v. parallel of Latitude.

vi. Radius and Parallel of Latitude.

vii. Radius of earth.

SUB – TOPIC I AND II

Earth as a sphere : Sphere is a ball shape , not exactly circular.

The earth is a sphere of radius about 6 370 km. It has two major axes, namely North – South (N-S) axis
and East – West ( E – W) axis. The N – S axis is called the polar axis ie a straight line through the centre of
the earth joining the North and South pole . The earth rotates about its polar axis.

The North and South end points of the polar axis are called the north pole (N) and the south pole (S)
respectively.
(DIAGRAM)

When you want to lick an orange, it is either cut into two or peeled into sectors. To lick the one cut is
bigger than the peeled sector. The one cut is like a full orange – half, or a great cicle. If you cut the
mouth just to lick, the cap is very small then –a small circle.

A great circle is a circle formed when a sphere is cut by a horizontal plane passing through its
centre . In other words a great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on the surface of a sphere.

Note: The centre of a great circle is the same as the centre of the sphere. Therefore, the radius of a
great circle is the same as the radius of the sphere.

(b). A Small circle is a circle formed when a sphere is cut by a horizontal plane passing through any part
of the sphere other than the centre. The radius of a small circle is smaller than the radius of the sphere.
Also, all lines of Latitude are small circles.

THE LINES OF LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE.

The spherical earth has imaginery lines called lines of latitude and longitude which are drawn on the
earth’s surface to determine the location of any point.

(a). LATITUDE: is the curve that runs from east to west of the earth. Halfway between the north pole
and the south pole is a line of Latitude.called the equator. It is a great circle and is marked latitude 0° All
latitudes to the North of the equator is numbered 1° N to 90° while that to the south 1° S to 90°S.
 The equator centre of the earth with equal radius with that of the earth. All Latitudes North or
South of the equator are parallel, often called parallels of latitude.

(b). LONGITUDE: is the curve that runs from North to South . The circles formed on the surface of the
earth as a result of this line, are great circles called line of longitude. Lines of longitude, or meridians, are
semi – great circles that have the polar axis (NS) as a diameter.

Meridians are not parallel . They converge at the poles and are widest at the equator. The Type
equation here.meridian that passes through London, England is called Greenwich Meridian/ Prime
meridian. It is the reference meridian marked longitude 0®. The position of other meridian are measured
from 1° E to 180° E, and 1° W to 180° W towards East and West respectively. So, all longititudes are
great circles.

(c). THE RADIUS OF THE EARTH.

This is denoted using R which is approximately 6 370 km or 6 400 km (2 s.f.). Any line that has its source
from the Centre of the earth o, is labelled with the radius R.

(d). RADIUS OF THE PARALLELS OF LATITUDE

In the figure below , the latitude of the point A is Q. C is the centre of the circle of latitude on which A
lies.

Let r be the radius of the parallel of latitude through A, then in ∆ ACO.

< CAO = Q ( alternate angles CA OB )

OA = R ( radius of the earth )

:. cos⁡Q = r/R

r = Rcos⁡Q

DIAGRAM

The relationship r = R cos⁡Q IS true for all parallels of Latitude where Q is the angle of Latitude you’re
solving for its radius.

Note: (i). All points which lie on the same parallel of latitude have the same latitude.

(ii). All points which lie on the same meridian have the same longitude.

EXAMPLES
(1).By using a suitable sketch , locate the points.

(a). T (60° N , 40° E ) (b). P (70° S , 50° W )

DIAGRAM

Steps to draw which will help also to interpret:

(a).Draw a circle to represent the earth. Indicate the polar axis NS, the equator and prime

meridian.

(b). Draw any latitude / longitude for the North and South or East /West respectively.

(2). State the longitude of the following: (a) B (b). Q (c) R (d) C in figure i.

DIAGRAM

B is on longitude 90° ie from G to B west ward.

Q is 90° from G to Q east ward.

R is 135° from G to R ie 90° + 45°

(3). What is the difference in longitude between H and F? Answer: 45° + 60° = 105°.

EVALUATION

(1). Sketch , Mark the following points:

(a) Q (60° N, 20° E ) (b) M (35° S, 55° W ) (c) R (35° S, 20° E )

(2). Use (fig i ) above, to answer the following:

What is the difference in longitude between: (i). C and H? (ii) B and H?

(3). In fig. ii, G is the point where the Green wjch Meridian crosses the equator. Lines of latitude 70° N
and 30° S, and longitude 80° E and 40° W are given.

i). State the latitude and longitude of the following points.

ii). Write down the points on the same latitude.

DIAGRAM

GENERAL EXERCISE

1). Page 55 , exercise 7b, number: 4, 7 and 9 of New General Mathematics SSIII.

2). Essential Mathematics SSIII, Page 99, Exercise 8.1, Number: 7 and 8.

READING ASSIGNMENT

1). New General Mathematics SSIII, Page 52 to 55.

2). Essential Mathematics SSIII, Page 94 to 100.

WEEK 5

TOPIC: LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE

SUB-TOPIC:

Revision of arc length of a curve

Calculations of distance between two points on the earth

Nautical rules (mile) and time variations

Sub-topic 1: Revision of arc length of a curve

Recall,

arc

Arc length AB, L = θ/360×2πr

OR Arc length AB, L = πrθ/180

but the angle θ is given as, θ=(180 L)/πr or (360 L)/2πr

Perimeter of sector AB = θ/360×2πr + 2r

Area of sector AOB = θ/360×〖πr〗^2

In the figure below, AB is a chord of the circle centre O and radius 12cm, <AOB = 100⁰. Calculate
correct to 3 s.f

100⁰

The length of chord AB

The length of arc ADB

The perimeter of sector OADB

The area of the shaded segment (Take π=22/7)

Solution:

In the diagram, OM bisects <AOM and the chord AB. So <AOM = 100/2 = 50

In triangle OAM, sin50⁰ = AM/12

AM = 12 sin50⁰

= 12 x 0.7660

∴ chord AB = 2 x 12 x 0.7660

= 18.384cm

= 18.4 to three s.f

Length of arc ADB = πrθ/180

= ( 22/7 ×12 ×100)/180

= 20.95cm

= 21.0 to three s.f

Perimeter of sector OADB = arc ADB + 2r

= 20.95 + 2(12)

= 20.95 + 24
 = 44.95cm

= 45.0cm to three s.f

Area of triangle AOB = 1/2 r2 sin 100⁰

= 1/2 x 122 x sin 100

= 70.91cm2

Area of sector OADB = θ/360×〖πr〗^2

= 125.71cm2

∴ Area of the shaded segment = Area of sector OADB - Area of triangle AOB

= 125.71 – 70.91

= 54.8cm2

PQ is a chord of the circle centre O, 21cm in length and radius 12cm. calculate <AOB to 3 s.f
(π=22/7) Ans : 100⁰ to 3 s.f

EVALUATION

Find (i) the perimeter (ii) area and (iii) the length of the arc of the figure below (take pie = 22/7)

10cm

102⁰

calculate to 3 s.f the perimeter, area of the shaded part and the length of the arc in the diagram

A B

8cm

80⁰
SUB-TOPIC 2:

Calculations of distance between two points on the earth.

Recall that all lines of longitudes and the equator are called great circles. To calculate distances along
great circles means finding the distance along the longitudes and the equator.

Note: To find the difference in longitude when the longitudes of two places are:

On opposite sides of the prime meridian ( i.e are East and West) simply add the longitudes
together

Both on th same side of the meridian, (are both east and west) subtract the smaller the smaller
longitudes from the larger longitude. The same is true for differences in latitudes

So angular difference means difference in longitude or in latitude

Examples

Determine the angle between the following locations on the earth’s surface.

45⁰E and 85⁰E

40⁰W and 88⁰W

75⁰E and 66⁰W

Solution

85 – 45 = 40⁰ on the same location

88 – 40 = 48⁰ on the same location

75 + 66 = 141⁰ on different location

Towns A and B lie on the equator. A has longitude 63⁰E while B has longitude 126⁰E.

What is the distance between the two towns along the equator?

How far is town A from the North pole? (Take the radius of the earth as 6400km and π=22/7)

Solution:

DIAGRAM

Arc AB = 63/360×2πR

= 7040km

Distance of A from the North pole = Arc AN

Angular difference = 90 + 0 = 90

∴ Arc AN = 90/360×2πR

= 10057km
 Point X has longitude 68⁰W and point Y has longitude 112⁰E. if both points lie on latitude 65⁰N.
calculate the distance between X and Y along

Latitude 65⁰N

A great circle

Solution:

The longitudes of X and Y differ by 180 ( i.e 68 + 112 = 180), hence X and Y lie on the same meridian, a
great circle passing through the north pole. Thus,

Distance from X and Y along latitude 65⁰N = 1/2 ×circumference of the small circle

= 1/2 ×2πR cos65⁰

= 1174km

XOY = 180 – 2(65) = 50⁰

⇒ arc XNY = 50/360×2πR

= 5556km

EVALUATION

The positions of Abuja (Nigeria) and Bonn (Germany) to the nearest degree are (9⁰N, 7⁰E) and
(51⁰N, 7⁰E) respectively. Use R = 6400km to calculate their distance apart to two s.f

By road, opobo Town and katsina are 1312km apart. Their positions are (4.6⁰N , 7.5⁰E) and
(13.0⁰N , 7.5⁰E) respectively.

Calculate their great circle distance apart.

Explain why there is a difference between your result and the road distance.

.(3) Two points M and N on the surface of the earth are given by their latitudes and longitudes as
M(50⁰S , 15⁰E) and N(50⁰S , 75⁰E). calculate (a) the radius of the parallel of latitude on which M and N
lie. (b) the distance MN measured along the parallel of latitude (Take the radius of the earth to be
6400km) (WAEC)

P and Q are two places on the same parallel of latitude 34.6⁰S. Their longitudes are 28.7⁰E and
11.3⁰W respectively. A is another point on the same meridian through P and its latitude is 25.4⁰N,
calculate

The distance between P na Q along the parallel of latitude

The shortest distance between P na d Q on the surface of the earth.

The circumference of the circle of latitude through A (Assume that the earth is a sphere of
radius 6400km) (WAEC)

Find the distance measured along the parallel of latitude between Monrovia (6.3⁰N , 10.8⁰W)
and Benin city (6.3⁰N , 5.7⁰E)
 Find the parallel of latitude along which a journey of 166km makes a change of 4⁰in longitude.
(give your answer to the nearest degree)

GENERAL EXERCISE

NGM for S.S 3, page 59, Ex. 7d Q12, 15; page 61, Ex. 7e Q4, 11

*Nautical mile and time variations

The length (distance) of an arc of a great circle which subtends an angle of 1 minute (1’) at the centre of
the earth is called a Nautical mile.

This implies from the above that 60 minutes (60’) will complete, 360 = 2πR (circumference of the earth)

∴ 60’ x 360 = 21600 nautical miles

i.e 2πR = 21600 nautical miles. If the radius of the earth is 6400km

⇒ 1 nautical mile = 2πR/21600

= 2 x 22/7×6400/21600

= 1.86km

The concept above will help in the conversion of nautical miles to kilometers or vice versa.

*Longitudes and time variations

The earth rotates on its axis and completes a rotation about its axis in 24 hours. Any point on a latitude
will travel a distance equal to the circumference of the latitude in 24 hours

Speed = distance/ time

i.e speed = (length of the parallel of latitude)/time

= (2πR (km))/(24 (hrs))

Similarly, for time variations, i.e any two meridians that are 15⁰ apart, the difference in time between
them is 1 hour. i.e for a day (24 hrs), the earth rotates 360⁰

⇒ 1 hr = 360/24 i.e 15⁰

So if 15⁰ = 1 hr

∴ 1⁰ = 60mins/15 i.e 4 minutes

Examples:

The longitudes of town P and Q are 105⁰E and 15⁰W respectively. What will be the time at town
B when it is 1p.m in town A?

Two places A and B are on the earth’s surface. Given that B is due east of A and that the local
time at A and B are 2.00pm and 7.00pm respectively, if A is on longitude 20⁰E, on what longitude is B?
Solution:

The difference in longitude is 105 – 15 = 90⁰

∴ time difference = (90 × 24)/(360 ×1) = 6hrs

Since town B is in the west, it loses time.

∴ 1 pm i.e 13 hrs – 6hrs = 7hrs

which is 7am

Difference in time between A and B = 5hrs (7pm – 2pm)

5hrs = 300 minutes (60 x 5)

But 4mins = 1⁰

∴ 300 mins = 75⁰ by calculation

Hence, if A is on longitude 20⁰E and B is due east of A, then B is is on longitude (75 + 20) = 95⁰E

Convert (i) the distance between the two towns along the equator, and (ii) town A from the
North pole of question 2 above to nautical mile.

Solution:

1 nautical mile = 1.86km

1.86km = 1 nautical mile

1km = 1/1.86 nautical mile

∴ 7040km = 1/1.86 ×7040

= 3784.94

= 3785 nautical miles

∴ 10057 km = 1/1.86×10057

= 5406.98

= 5407 Nautical miles

EVALUATION

X and Y are two points on latitude 65⁰N. Their longitude differ by 180⁰. Calculate the distance
from X and Y

Along a great circle

Along the parallel of latitude and

The nautical mile of the distance from X and Y

The radius of the circle of latitude through P and Q

The distance PQ along the parallel of latitude

The speed due to the rotation of the earth in km/hr of the point P assuming that the earth
makes a complete rotation in 24hrs. (Take the radius of the earth to be 6400km) (WAEC)

P and Q are two places on the same parallel of latitude 34.6⁰S, their longitudes are 28.7⁰E and
11.3⁰W respectively. A is another point on the same meridian through P and its Latitude is 25.4⁰W.
calculate:

The distance between P and Q along the parallel of latitude

The shortest distance between P and A on the surface of the earth

The circumference of the circle of latitude through A

The nautical mile of (a & b)

(Assume that the earth is a sphere of radius 6400km)