UNIT 1.

EARTH

1.1 Explain with diagrams: ‘great circle’, ‘small circle’.

1.2 Explain with diagrams: ‘earth’s axis’, ‘earth’s poles’, ‘equator’ and
‘meridians’.
1.3 Explain with diagrams: ‘latitude’ and ‘parallels of latitude’,‘prime
meridian and ‘longitude’.
1.4 Explain with diagrams: difference of latitude and difference of longitude.
1.5 Explain ‘Sea Mile’, and ‘Nautical mile’, , comparison of nautical mile with
kilometre, ‘cable’ and explanation of ‘knot’ as a unit of speed

1. Which of the following is/are CORRECT?

X: Latitude tells how far from equator
Y: Longitude tells how far from poles
Z: All the meridians are semi great circles

A) X
B) X&Y
C) Y&Z
D) X, Y & Z
Option D
2. A great circle is defined as
A) It is the circle on the surface of the sphere whose plane will not pass
through the center of that sphere.
B) It is the circle on the surface of the sphere whose plane will pass
through the center of that sphere.
C) It is the circle on the surface of the sphere whose plane will make two
unequal parts
D) It is the diameter about which the earth rotates

Option B

3. The number of great circles through any two points on the surface of a
sphere will be
A) 1
 B) 2
C) 3
D) Infinite
Option D
4. A great circle divides the sphere into
A) Two equal parts
B) Two unequal parts
C) Four equal parts
D) Four unequal parts

Option A
5. If we cut a sphere along the great circle, the plane of cut will pass
A) through the center of the sphere and will divide the sphere into two
equal halves
B) through the center of the sphere and will divide the sphere into
unequal equal halves
C) away from the center of the sphere and will divide the sphere into
two equal halves
D) away from the center of the sphere and will divide the sphere into
two unequal halves
Option A

6. Which of the following is/are CORRECT with reference to small circle?

X: All the meridians are small circles
Y: All parallels of latitude are small circles
Z: A small circle does not pass through the center of the sphere

A) X
B) Y
C) X&Y
D) Y&Z
Option D
7. Any circle on the surface of the sphere whose plane does not pass
through the center of that plane is called
A) Small Circle
B) Great Circle
C) Rational Horizon
D) Meridian
Option A
8. Match the following:
COLUMN X COLUMN Y
1) Poles of Earth a) The diameter of the earth about which
it rotates is known as its axis.

2) Earth’s Axis b) Equator

3) Great Circle c) The two points where the axis meets
the surface of the earth are called
poles of the earth.

A) 1-a, 2-b,3-c
B) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
C) 1-c,2-a, 3-b
D) 1-c,2-b, 3-a

Option C
9. In the adjacent figure letters X, Y & Z respectively
represent as follows:

A) X= Axis, Y= Meridian Z= Equator

B) X= Meridian, Y= Axis Z= Equator
C) X= Meridian, Y= Equator Z= Axis
D) X= Axis, Y= Meridian, Z= Equator
Option A

10. The geographical poles of earth are the two points where

A)axis meets the equator

B)axis meets the earth's surface
C ) the earth revolves about them

D) the plane of equator does not pass through the center of the
sphere

Option B

11. Which of the following is/are CORRCET related to equator?

 X: It is a great circle on the surface of the earth which is running
midway between the two poles of Earth.
Y: It is the reference circle from which the latitudes are measured
either North or South.
Z: Both poles of the earth are 90 ° away from any point on the equator
A) X,
B) X, & Y
C) Y&Z
D) X, Y & Z
Option D
12. Following statement is related to
“They are semi-great circles running from one pole to the other and
meeting the equator and all parallels of latitudes at right angles”

A) Equator
B) Poles
C) Axis
D) Meridians
Option D

13. Which of the following statement(s) is are CORRECT?

X: Earth rotates in anti-clockwise direction when viewed from North
pole
Y: Earth rotates in clockwise direction when viewed from South pole
Z: Earth rotates from west to east

A) X
B) Y
C) Z
D) X, Y & Z
Option D

14. Which of the following is related to Parallels of Latitude?

A) These are great circles on the surface of the earth.
B) They do not run parallel to each other.
C) They lie north or south of the meridian.
D) All the places along any parallel of latitude will have the same
latitude.
 Option D
15. A latitude of a place is defined as follows:

A) It is the arc of the equator or the angle at the center of the earth
on the plane of the meridian contained between the meridian and
the parallel of the latitude passing through that place and is
expressed North or South of the Equator
B) It is the arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the earth
on the plane of the meridian contained between the equator and
the parallel of the latitude passing through that place and is
expressed North or South of the Equator.
C) It is the arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the earth
on the plane of the equator contained between the equator and
the parallel of the latitude passing through that place and is
expressed North or South of the Equator
D) It is the arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the earth
on the plane of the axis contained between the equator and the
parallel of the latitude passing through that place and is expressed
North or South of the Equator
Option B

16. A longitude of a place is defined as follows :

A) It is the longer arc of the equator or the angle at the poles or angle at
the center of the earth along the plane of equator contained between
the prime meridian and the meridian passing through that place and
expressed East or West.
B) It is the shorter arc of the equator or the angle at the poles or angle at
the center of the earth along the plane of meridian contained between
the prime meridian and the meridian passing through that place and
expressed East or West.
C) It is the shorter arc of the equator or the angle at the poles or angle at
the center of the earth along the plane of equator contained between
the prime meridian and the meridian passing through that place and
expressed East or West.
D) It is the longer arc of the equator or the angle at the poles or angle at
the center of the earth along the plane of meridian contained between
the prime meridian and the meridian passing through that place and
expressed East or West

Option C
17. Following is measured North or South from the equator

A)Latitudes
B)Longitudes
C)Meridians
D) Poles

Option A

18. Meridians are

A) Great circles
B) Small circles
C) Semi great circles
D) Semi small circles

Option C

19. Which of the following is/are CORRECT for prime meridian?

X: It is that specific meridian which is passing through Greenwich in
United Kingdom
Y: All longitudes are measured East or West from prime meridian
Z: This meridian also defines “zero” degree latitude

A) X
B) Y
C) X&Y
D) Y&Z

Option C

20. Which of the following is/are CORRECT?

X) 0° and 180° longitudes have no names
Y) Latitude is perpendicular to the plane of the meridian
Z) Longitude can also be defined along the plane of the equator.

A) X&Y
B) Y&Z
C) Z&X
D) X, Y & Z
Option C
21. Which of the following is related to D’lat?
 A) It is the shorter arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the
earth on the plane of the equator between the parallels of latitudes of
two places. It is named either north or south depending on the
direction of travel
B) It is the arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the earth on
the plane of the meridian between the parallels of latitudes of two
places. It is named either north or south depending on the direction of
travel.
C) It is the arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the earth on
the plane of the equator between the parallels of latitudes of two
places. It is named either north or south depending on the direction of
travel
D) It is the arc of the meridian or the angle at the center of the earth on
the plane of the meridian between the parallels of latitudes of two
places. It is named either east or west depending on the direction of
travel
Option B
22. A D’long is defined as follows:
A) It is the shorter arc of the equator or the angle at the pole or the angle
at the center of the earth along the plane of the equator contained
between the meridians passing through two places and is named
either east or west depending on the direction of travel
B) It is the longer arc of the equator or the angle at the pole or the angle
at the center of the earth along the plane of the equator contained
between the meridians passing through two places and is named
either east or west depending on the direction of travel
C) It is the shorter arc of the meridian or the angle at the pole or the
angle at the center of the earth along the plane of the equator
contained between the meridians passing through two places and is
named either east or west depending on the direction of travel
D) It is the shorter arc of the meridian or the angle at the pole or the
angle at the center of the earth along the plane of the equator
contained between the meridians passing through two places and is
named either north or south depending on the direction of travel
Option A
23. Match the following:
Column X Column Y
1. D’lat a) Smaller angle at the poles contained
between meridians of two places
 2. D’long b) Arc of meridian or angle at the center
of earth between two places
c) Named E-W
d) Named N-S
A) 1-a,c, 2-b-d
B) 1-a,b, 2-c-d
C) 1-b,d, 2-a-c
D) 1-b,c, 2-a-d
Option C

24. If place A= 14°S, place B= 42°S, d’lat from A to B will be

A) 28°N
B) 28°S
C) 56°S
D) 56°N
Option B
25. If place A= 14°S, place B= 42°S, d’lat from B to A will be
A) 28°N
B) 28°S
C) 56°S
D) 56°N
Option A
26. If place A= 32 °12’ 06” N, place B= 15° 06’ 54” S, d’lat from A to B will
be
A) 47 °19’ N
B) 47 °19’ S
C) 160 06’ 02” N
D) 160 06’ 12” N

Option A

27. If place A= 32 °12’ 06” N, place B= 15° 06’ 54” S, d’lat from B to A
will be
A) 47 °19’ N
B) 47 °19’ S
C) 160 06’ 02” N
D) 160 06’ 12” N
 Option B

28. Find the D’long between two positions 015 0 30’ W and 0390 50’W.
A) 1640’E
B) 1640’ W
C) 1460’ E
D) 1460’ W

Option D
29. A vessel steams from longitude 1400 30’ W to 1300 15’ E. Find the
D’long made good.
A) 5355’ E
B) 5355’ W
C) 5535’ E
D) 5535’W
Option B
30. A vessel steams from longitude 1300 15’ E to 1400 30’ W . Find the
D’long made good.
A) 890 15’ E
B) 890 15’ W
C) 2700 45’ E
D) 2700 45’ W

Option A

31. Find the D’long from 1600 W to 1700 E.

A) 300 E
B) 300 W
C) 3300 E
D) 3300 W

Option B

32. Which of the following is CORRECT related to shape of earth?

A) Earth shape is truly spherical.
B) Earth is not an “ellipsoid”.
C) The polar areas are comparatively flatter and equatorial region bulges
out a bit.
D) Thus equatorial radius of earth is about6356.77 km and polar radius is
6378.16 km
 Option C
33. Compression of earth is defined as

A) It is the ratio between difference in equatorial and polar radius and the
equatorial radius
B) It is the ratio between difference in equatorial and polar radius and the
polar radius
C) It is the ratio of equatorial to polar radius
D) It is the ratio of polar radius to equatorial radius

Option A

34. The value of earth’s compression is

A) 1/ 498.25
B) 1/ 398.25
C) 1/ 298.25
D) 1/ 198.25
Option C

35. The shape of earth approximates to the mathematical form called a/an
A) Geoid
B) Spheroid
C) Oblate Spheroid
D) Great Circle
Option C
36. Sea mile is defined as
A) the length of arc of meridian subtending an angle of one minute at the
center of curvature of the meridian at 450 latitude north or south
B) the length of arc of meridian subtending an angle of one minute at the
center of curvature of the meridian at 650 latitude north or south
C) the length of arc of meridian subtending an angle of one minute at the
center of the earth of a meridian at the given location
D) the length of arc of meridian subtending an angle of one minute at the
center of curvature of the meridian at the given location
Option D

37. What is one nautical mile ?

 A) An arbitrary value of 5080ft or 1.582km is accepted as the length of
one nautical mile worldwide.
B) A fixed value of 5080ft or 1.5852km is accepted as the length of one
nautical mile worldwide
C) An arbitrary value of 6080ft or 1.852km is accepted as the length of
one nautical mile worldwide.
D) An arbitrary value of 7080ft or 1.882km is accepted as the length of
one nautical mile worldwide.
Option C

38. One tenth of a nautical mile is called

A) Knot
B) Sea mile
C) Cable
D) Geographical mile
Option C
39. A knot is defined as
A) the unit of speed used for marine navigation and indicates “ sea miles
covered per hour”
B) the unit of speed used for marine navigation and indicates “nautical
miles covered per hour”
C) the unit of speed used for marine navigation and indicates “
geographical covered per hour”
D) the unit of cable used for marine navigation and indicates “nautical
miles covered per hour”
Option C

40. Match the following

Column X Column Y
1.Statute Mile a)t is an arbitrary length equal to 6080ft followed by
a few countries.

2. b) It is the length of one minute of longitude

Geographical measured along the equator.
mile:

c) This has no scientific basis to it.

d) This has a constant valve of 1855.3m or 6087ft
 A) 1-a,d, 2-b, c
B) 1-a,b 2- c, d
C) 1-a, 2- b, d
D) 1-c, 2- b, d
Option D

41. Geocentric latitude is defined as

A) It is the angle at the center of curvature the earth contained between

the plane of the meridian and a line joining the observer to the center
of the earth
B) It is the angle at the center of the earth contained between the plane
of the equator and a line joining the observer to the center of the
earth.
C) It is the angle at the center of the earth contained between the plane
of the parallel of latitude and a line joining the observer to the center
of the earth
D) It is the angle at the center of the earth contained between the plane
of the equator and the latitude observed

Option B
42. Geographic latitude is defined as
A) It is the angle between the vertical drawn at any given place on earth
and the plane of the equator.
B) It is the angle between the center of earth at any given place on
earth and the plane of the equator
C) It is the angle between the center of equator at any given place on
earth and the plane of the meridian
D) It is the angle between the horizontal drawn at any given place on
earth and the plane of the equator
Option A

43. While going from A to B as per the

diagram as viewed from north pole, the
course will be
A) 0900 ( T)
B) 1800 ( T)
C) 2700 ( T)
D) 0000 ( T)

Option C
44. While going from B to A as per the diagram attached as viewed from
north pole, the course will be
A) 0900 ( T)
B) 1800 ( T)
C) 2700 ( T)
D) 0000 ( T)

Option A

45. While steaming from A to B, D’long

will be
A) 0900 E
B) 0900 W
C) 2700 E
D) 2700 W

Option B

46. In the adjacent diagram, while

steaming from A to B, true course
will be
A) N’ly
B) S’ly
C) E’ly
D) W’ly

Option C
47. The difference between geographic latitude and geocentric latitude is nil at
A) Equator
B) Poles
C) Both ( B) & ( C)
D) None of these
Option C
48. The geographic latitude differs from the geocentric latitude as the earth
A) Is a true sphere
B) Is not a true sphere
C) Revolves about its axis
D) Is flattened at the equator
Option B

49. The maximum difference between geographic and geocentric latitude is at

A) Poles
B) Equator
C) 450 N/S
D) 600 N/S

Option C
50. The maximum difference between geographic and geocentric latitude is
A) 23.2’
B) 11.6’
C) 5. 8’
D) 2.9’

Option B
51. At the poles, the curvature of earth is
A) Maximum
B) Minimum
C) Can not be determined
D) Equal to nautical miles
Option B
52. Which of the following is CORRECT related to Geographic mile?
A) Variable length approximately equal to 1852.3 m
B) Variable length approximately equal to 1855.3 m
C) Constant Length equal to 1855.3 m
D) Constant Length equal to 1852.3 m

Option C

53. Which of the following is CORRECT related to Statute mile?

A) Arbitrary length of 6280 ft
B) Constant length of 6080 ft
C) Arbitrary length of 5280 ft
D) Variable length of 5280 ft
Option C

54. Which of the following is CORRECT for kilometer?

A) Approximately 1/10,000 part of meridian between equator and the pole
B) Approximately 1/1000 part of meridian between equator and the pole
C) Approximately 1/100 part of meridian between equator and the pole
D) Approximately 1/10 part of meridian between equator and the pole

Option A

55. In the adjoining diagram of 1800 longitude, which of the following is CORRECT
course while steaming from place A to place B
A) E’ly
B) W’ly
C) N’ly
D) S’ly

Option A