The longitudinal system establishes a distance -in degrees- from the Greenwich Meridian to any random point on the Earth's surface. Option D: The ship is 30 degrees west of its home port.
<h3>What is the longitudinal system?</h3>
The longitudinal system is a way to measure the distance in degrees between a random point on the Earth's surface and the Greenwich Meridian.
The Greenwich Meridian divides the Earth's surface into two halves.
- The half on the left is the Eastern Longitude (oriental hemisphere)
- The half on the right is the Western Longitude (occidental hemisphere)
The Greenwich Meridian is always at 0º longitude.
Hence, longitude is always measured from the Greenwich Meridian to the west or the east.
There is a relationship we can establish between time and longitude to determine the distance in degrees or in hours between two points on the Earth's surface.
We know that the Earth completes a whole spin equal 360º in 24 hours. So, the relationship between time and degrees is as follows,
24 hours / 360º = 1hour / 15º.
If we know the difference in time between one point and the other one, we can calculate the distance in degrees between these two point.
In the exposed example,
- Home port ⇒ 2:00 P.M ⇒ 14:00
Difference in time ⇒ 14:00 - 12:00 = 2 hours
Now, we can calculate the distance in degrees by using the previous relationship,
1 hour ------------- 15º
2 hours-----------<u> X = 30º</u>
Since this relationship is concernig the Greenwich Meridian, the difference in longitude between the ship's position and its home port is 30º West.
Option D is correct. The ship is 30 degrees west of its home port.
You can learn more about the longitudinal system at
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