Discuss the problems that occurred while trying to determine longitude. How was the longitude
problem finally solved? What will be an ideal response?
ANS:Answer
should include:
? Longitude lines are imaginary grid lines that run pole to pole used, along with latitude
measurements, to determine location coordinates. They measure the angle of a particular
location in reference to the prime meridian. They are always north and south
measurements.
? The biggest issue with longitude is that it cannot be determined using celestial markers
as with latitude. After setting a particular location as zero, longitude can be calculated
using time. The Earth is 360 degrees in circumference, and completes a full rotation
every 24 hours. Thus, every 15 degrees is equivalent to one hour of time.
? After it was determined that longitude could be found using time, another problem arose.
In the early 18th century, clocks were propelled by a pendulum to keep accurate time.
These clocks were not able to keep accurate time as they used pendulums which were
useless on a rolling ship.
? John Harrison created a clock in 1728 that was able to keep accurate time while at sea.
He called it a chronometer. It used a spring escapement instead of a pendulum, and this
made it a good solution to the previously inferior clocks at sea.
? John Harrison built four chronometers total. The last model he made was only five
seconds slow, which was an astonishing accomplishment for that time period.
? Eventually, John Harrison's clocks were able to be reproduced. This allowed Harrison to
finally collect reward money for his invention. Captain Cook took one of Harrison's
replicated clocks on his last two expeditions.
Information can be found in the section Voyaging Combined with Science to Advance Ocean Studies
You might also like to view...
In bioturbation, most of the original sedimentary structures are preserved
a. True
b. FalseThe ________ segment of the San Andreas fault is the only one not to have a long rupture in historic time. In prehistory, it has ruptured every 250 years on average, but the last big movement was in 1690.
A. southern B. middle C. "creeping" D. northern
Compare and contrast rotational slides and translational slides
What will be an ideal response?
Which of the following domains includes complex organisms: multicellular plants, multicellular animals, fungi, and protoctists?
A) Archaea B) Archaeabacteria C) Bacteria D) Ediacaria E) Eukarya