Geolocation- an imaginary grid over the world
The whole world can be turned into a map with a grid over the top of it.
Points within this grid map are used for Geolocation. Each line in the grid is given a number and with two numbers you can identify an exact place on the Earth's surface.
These two numbers are called coordinates.
Coordinates, like (100,300), can point to places on a grid.
Coordinates
Coordinates like (100,300) help you find places on a grid. Grids with coordinates are really useful, they make it easy to share directions with others and find places on a map. Apps, like Google Maps, use these Geolocation numbers as well, and satellites use them to identify your position and help you drive to places. This is called a Global Positioning System GPS.
What are the lines called?
Latitude linesLongitude lines
Latitude
The world is broken into 360 vertical slices like the wedges on the outside of an orange. The imaginary lines of longitude run from the North to the South pole. 0°, the first line, is called the Prime Meridian and it cuts through Greenwich, England.
Longitude
The Earth is also broken into 180 horizontal rings, called lines of latitude.The imaginary line drawn at 0° is called the equator.
What does it look like?
(0,0) is off the coast of Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Because the world is so big, the numbers can be very big too. (-37.7943341,175.2308903) is the Code Avengers HQ in Hamilton, New Zealand. We are 37.7943341° south of the equator and 175.2308903° east of the Prime Meridian .
(0,0) is off the coast of West Africa(-37.7943341,175.2308903) is in the middle of New Zealand
Latitude: The first number is how far North or South you are from the Equator
Logitude: The second number is how far East or West you are from the Prime Meridian
New Zealand is in the South-East part of the world
The order of the coordinates can be confusing
In Maths and Computer Science, the first number in a coordinate is found by moving across horizontally, and the second number is found by moving down vertically. The intersection of the two lines is where that coordinate is pointing to. Geolocation is the opposite. The first coordinate is vertical from North to South. The second coordinate is horizontal, from East to West.
If you are used to reading them one way it can be difficult to remember to do it the other way.
The MATH coordinates are (300,100)The GEOLOCATION coordinates are (100,300)