Section outline

  • Longitude and latitude are imaginary lines that circle the Earth.  They are used to exactly pinpoint where a person or object is located.  These lines are on maps and measured in degrees. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute has 60 seconds.



    Latitude and longitude of the Earth

    Image: Djexplo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons



    Words

    • circle = to go around
    • degrees = unit by which the lines around the Earth are measured
    • exactly = correctly, in detail
    • imaginary = not real
    • locate = to show where something is
    • measure = here: calculate
    • pinpoint = locate , to show very exactly