One degree of longitude equals 60 nm at which location?

Prepare for the Boatswain’s Mate Chief (BMC) SWE Exam with in-depth study materials and multiple-choice questions. Enhance your understanding with well-explained hints and explanations. Ready yourself to excel!

Multiple Choice

One degree of longitude equals 60 nm at which location?

Explanation:
One degree of longitude represents an arc along a circle that changes size with latitude—for meridians converge toward the poles. The distance of one degree of longitude at a given latitude φ is 60 nautical miles times cos φ. At the equator, φ = 0°, cos 0° = 1, so one degree of longitude equals 60 nautical miles. As you move to higher latitudes, cos φ decreases, making each degree of longitude shorter, and at the poles the length effectively goes to zero. So the location where one degree of longitude equals 60 nautical miles is the equator.

One degree of longitude represents an arc along a circle that changes size with latitude—for meridians converge toward the poles. The distance of one degree of longitude at a given latitude φ is 60 nautical miles times cos φ. At the equator, φ = 0°, cos 0° = 1, so one degree of longitude equals 60 nautical miles. As you move to higher latitudes, cos φ decreases, making each degree of longitude shorter, and at the poles the length effectively goes to zero. So the location where one degree of longitude equals 60 nautical miles is the equator.

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