Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice test

What does latitude measure?

1. Distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian.

2. Distance in degrees north or south of the equator.

3. Distance in time zones away from the International Date Line.

4. Distance between sea level and the poles.

The correct answer is: Distance in degrees north or south of the equator.

Latitude measures the distance in degrees north or south of the equator. This geographical coordinate is crucial for locating a point on the Earth's surface relative to the equator, which is designated as 0 degrees latitude. Lines of latitude, often referred to as parallels, run horizontally across the globe and provide a system for identifying locations in terms of their proximity to the equator, which can affect climate, weather patterns, and biodiversity. Understanding latitude is fundamental in various scientific fields, including geography, environmental science, and meteorology, because it helps explain phenomena such as the distribution of ecosystems and climatic zones. This is distinctly different from the measurement of longitude, which is related to how far a location is from the prime meridian, a concept outlined in one of the other options. The remaining choices involve time zones and vertical measurements, which do not pertain to the concept of latitude.