Lab Practical 1

Question 1

What is statue/standard miles in feet?

Answer 1

1 Statue/standard mile = 5280 ft (1.6 km)

Question 2

What is a nautical mile in feet?

Answer 2

6,076 feet

Question 3

How many standard miles in a nautical mile?

Answer 3

1.15 standard miles

Question 4

1 meter = ___? ___ feet

Answer 4

3.28

Question 5

What happens in a mercator projection?

Answer 5

As longitude increases (from equator to poles), continents are exaggerated and appear bigger than their actual size. (poles are exaggerated)

Question 6

What causes seasonal variations?

Answer 6

1. Earths tilt (23.5 degrees) and ecliptic orbit causes the N/S hemispheres to either be directly facing(direct sunlight) the sun or further away from the sun (indirect sunlight). (depending on the time of the year and location). If the sun is pointing directly over an area, its rays are much more concentrated rather than being indirect and being dispersed over a larger area.

Question 7

When does the Summer/Winter solstice take place (northern hemisphere)?

Answer 7

June 20/21 = Summer (North pole closes to sun, rays directly hitting tropic of cancer)
Dec 21/22 = Winter

Question 8

When does the Summer/Winter solstice take place (southern hemisphere)?

Answer 8

June 20/21 = Winter

Dec 21/22 = Summer

Question 9

What is Latitude/Longitude used for?

Answer 9

Latitude: one’s North and South position from equator (0-90 degrees)
Horizontal lines

Longitude: one’s east/west position from the prime meridian (0 to 180 degrees)

Question 10

What is the Prime Meridian?

Answer 10

An imaginary line that divides Earth into easter and western hemispheres (0 degrees longitude)

Question 11

What is the International Date Line?

Answer 11

an imaginary line on Earths surface (through the pacific ocean, 180 degrees) defining the boundary between one day and the net
Time zones are increased by one hour (15 Degrees going east) Decreases by one hour (every 15 degrees going west)

Question 12

What is sextant?

Answer 12

a navigation instrument that measures the angle between horizon and either (north star or Southern cross) since they are both directly above Earth’s axis of rotation (used to determine one’s latitude)

Question 13

Chronometer

Answer 13

accurate clock set to UTC (time at 0 degree longitude), earth rotates 15 degrees per hour (360 degrees/ 24 hours in a day)
If you are earlier than UTC time, you are to the west of the Prime Meridian (vice versa)