What type of orbit does earth revolve around the sun?
Elliptical Orbit
Orbital path and orbital speed of earth governed by -
Kepler’s Laws
Angle at which Earth’s axis is inclined to Orbital Plane?
66 1/2 degrees [23 1/2 degrees to the Normal to the Orbital Plane]
Inclination of the Earth’s Axis the cause of -
- Changing time interval between Sunrise and Sunset throughout the year
Actual Shape of Earth?
Oblate Spheroid
Flattening of Earth at poles called -
Compression
QB: Earth Compression -
0.03 % {1/300th]
QB: Which is more? Earth Polar Diameter or Earth Equatorial Diameter?
Earth Equatorial Diameter; Greater by 50 km
Datum used to define Direction?
Direction in which Earth spinning - East
Therefore, Sun rises from East
QB: What is a Great Circle?
Circle on the Surface of Earth whose - Centre and Radius is that of Earth itself.
The shortest distance between 2 points on Earth is - Shorter arc of the Great Circle joining the 2 points.
Shortest Distance between 2 points on Earth?
Shorter arc of the Great Circle joining the 2 points.
How many Great Circles can pass through 2 points on the earth?
One.
Unless points diametrically opposite.
What is a Meridian?
Semi Great Circle joining North and South Poles
QB: What direction do Meridians indicate?
True North - South direction
QB: Meridians cross equator at?
90 degrees
What is the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian?
- Datum for measuring Longitude
What is the Equator?
What is a Small Circle?
Circle on the surface of the earth whose center and radius is NOT that of the earth.
Smalls circles of relevance - Parallels of Latitude
QB: What are Parallels of Latitude?
Small circles on the surface of the earth whose planes are parallel to the plane of the Equator. Lay in East-West direction.
Function - Indicate position North and South of Equator.
What is a Graticule?
Network formed on map or surface of globe by -
Using Graticule, “Angular Measurements” used to define position of point on the Earth’s surface.
What is the fundamental unit of Angular measurement?
Degree
What is a Degree?
Angle subtended at the center of a circle, by an arc, equal to “360th” part of the Circumference.
Degree divided by - 60 minutes of arc
Minute divided by - 60 seconds of arc
What are Latitude and Longitude?
Angular Measurements used to define position on earth in a Spherical System
QB: How is latitude of a position measured? / What is latitude?
Latitude of any point - is the arc measured along the meridian through the point - from Equator to the point
Annotated N or S depending on whether point N or S of equator