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Quiz about All About Longitude 1
Quiz about All About Longitude 1

All About Longitude (1) Trivia Quiz

A general quiz on the concept of longitude, its history, some measurements, and other interesting (I hope) information. Good luck and have fun.

A multiple-choice quiz by Triviaballer. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Triviaballer
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
207,564
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1228
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Question 1 of 10
1. A line of constant longitude on Earth is synonymous with what measurement of Earth? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. One degree of longitude is equal to approximately how many miles at the Earth's poles? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. What are very accurate clocks and other timepieces that are helpful in longitude calculations commonly known as today? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. Who is the "Lone Genius", the man credited with devising the first extremely accurate method for determining one's longitude at sea? This man was the subject of the book "Longitude" by Dava Sobel. Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. What is a line of constant longitude known as? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. The International Date Line is at what degree of longitude? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. Giovanni Domenico Cassini utilized the moon(s) of which planet to assist mapmakers in longitude measurements? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. The English Longitude Act of 1714 was passed shortly after the fatal shipwreck of which notable admiral off the Scilly Isles? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. If someone has a very accurate clock for a known longitude, he/she can calculate his/her own longitude rather easily. If the sun is at the highest point in the sky (local noon) at 12:00 for your reference point and is at its highest point at 2:00 where you are now, what is your longitude with respect to your reference point? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. Longitude measurements are not only used on Earth. Celestial longitude measurements are calculated using "a table giving the coordinates of a celestial body at a number of specific times during a given period." What is this table commonly known as? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. A line of constant longitude on Earth is synonymous with what measurement of Earth?

Answer: One-Half the Circumference

 A meridian is approximately 12,430 miles on Earth.
2. One degree of longitude is equal to approximately how many miles at the Earth's poles?

Answer: Unmeasurable; Degrees of longitude converge at the poles

 The 360 degrees of longutude converge to a single point at the poles.
3. What are very accurate clocks and other timepieces that are helpful in longitude calculations commonly known as today?

Answer: Chronometers

 John Harrison's chronometer was the first one to keep accurate time in spite of temperature changes and a boat's movement.
4. Who is the "Lone Genius", the man credited with devising the first extremely accurate method for determining one's longitude at sea? This man was the subject of the book "Longitude" by Dava Sobel.

Answer: John Harrison

 The majority of John "Longitude" Harrison's adult life was spent attempting to make an accurate clock (chronometer) at sea. Previous chronometers varied with temperature and a ship's movement at sea. His H-4 chronometer finished in 1759 finally won the coveted "Longitude Prize".
5. What is a line of constant longitude known as?

Answer: Meridian

 The most well known meridian is the Prime Meridian at 0º which passes through the district of London called Greenwich, England. Greenwich was adopted as the Universal Prime Meridian by the International Meridian Conference in 1884. Different cultures have used other Prime Meridians including Rome, Paris, and Philadelphia.
6. The International Date Line is at what degree of longitude?

Answer: 180

 The International Date Line is the maximum distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
7. Giovanni Domenico Cassini utilized the moon(s) of which planet to assist mapmakers in longitude measurements?

Answer: Jupiter

 Jupiter's four Galilean moons had predictable eclipse patterns that Cassini used to measure longitude.
8. The English Longitude Act of 1714 was passed shortly after the fatal shipwreck of which notable admiral off the Scilly Isles?

Answer: Sir Cloudesley Shovell

 Over 2,000 men died from this wreck. Misjudgments due to longitude have accounted for numerous disasters at sea with this one on October 22, 1707 being the most notorious. The Longitude Act was passed to encourage someone to find the solution to the "Longitude Problem" so that shipwrecks would become less frequent. Anyone devising a method to measure longitude within half a degree was to receive 20,000 British Pounds (approximately $3-5 million today).
9. If someone has a very accurate clock for a known longitude, he/she can calculate his/her own longitude rather easily. If the sun is at the highest point in the sky (local noon) at 12:00 for your reference point and is at its highest point at 2:00 where you are now, what is your longitude with respect to your reference point?

Answer: 30 West

 Simply multiply the time difference in hours by 15 degrees west (later) or east (earlier).
10. Longitude measurements are not only used on Earth. Celestial longitude measurements are calculated using "a table giving the coordinates of a celestial body at a number of specific times during a given period." What is this table commonly known as?

Answer: Ephemeris

 These tables require painstaking mapping and tabulation of numerous celestial bodies, especially stars. Ephemerides were also used by practitioners of the "lunar method" to determine one's longitude at sea.
Source: Author Triviaballer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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Referenced Topics
General   History   Science   English   England   Cultures   Earth Science   English People   London   Moons   Rome   The Sun   Paris   Jupiter  

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