CONS 127 Finals Questions & Answers Solved
100% Correct.
What is latitude and how does it differ from longitude
Latitude: angle that describes the N-S position
Longitude: angle that describes the E-W position
Where is the prime meridian
Greenwich, England - line of 0 degrees longitude
What is a parallel
circle connecting all locations with a given latitude
What are the 3 ways the earth's shape can be mathematically defined
1) sphere
2) geoid
3) ellipsoid
What is the only correct representation of the Earth's surface
geoid
What is the main difference between an equivalent/conic and conformal/cylindrical
projection
,in conformal, areas of countries/continent are distorted whereas in equivalent, areas of
countries/continents are preserved
Considering the case of Africa and Greenland, describe how map projections might
influence the perspective of the map viewer
it perpetuates a very eurocentric view of colonial dominance. africa appears smaller than
greenland despite africa actually being a continent that is larger than N.A/EU
How was a metre first defined and how is it defined now
original: "one ten-millionth of the
distance from the equator to the North Pole"
now: "length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of
1/299 792 458 of a second"
What is the name of the unit which is equal to 1000 nm
micrometre
Which covers more area, a small or large scale map
small
What are two ways scale can be indicated on a map
1) graphic scale (bar)
2) fractional scale (ratio/verbal)
,What kind of map scale would be appropriate for representing large countries and/or
continents?
small scale map (eg. 1:1500000)
What kind of map scale would be appropriate for representing a city neighbourhood
large small map (eg. 1:50000)
Name some 3 devices which can measure distances at different scales
1) optical microscope
* uses visible light and system of lenses to magnify small samples
2) electron microscope
* accelerated electrons used as source of illumination
3) telescope
* instruments that aid in observation of remote objects and detects different electromagnetic
radiations
What is the difference between relative and absolute positioning
relative = position determined by landmarks/features (eg. dead-reckoning)
absolute = coordinates of a point in space (eg. position fixing)
What is a geodetic marker
, they are number of fixed stations whose relative and absolute positions are accurately
established. These points can then be used to calculate other points by using
triangulation
In ocean navigation, which is easier to calculate, latitude or longitude. explain why
latitude as stars will consistently reach same highest point in sky and height in sky changes w/
observers latitude
What is the critical measurement to obtain an accurate longitude. are there any limitations
time. the accurate measurement of GMT v. time difference between local time
limitations: no precise way to keep accurate local time on the ship
What is an orbit
curved path around a celestial object created from gravitational attraction between two objects
What are the ways that we can define space
the density of the atmosphere
Which type of orbit would be used to monitor weather
geostationary orbits
Which type of orbit is used for GPS/GNSS tracking
far elliptical orbits
Which orbit is best for getting to and returning from space easily
100% Correct.
What is latitude and how does it differ from longitude
Latitude: angle that describes the N-S position
Longitude: angle that describes the E-W position
Where is the prime meridian
Greenwich, England - line of 0 degrees longitude
What is a parallel
circle connecting all locations with a given latitude
What are the 3 ways the earth's shape can be mathematically defined
1) sphere
2) geoid
3) ellipsoid
What is the only correct representation of the Earth's surface
geoid
What is the main difference between an equivalent/conic and conformal/cylindrical
projection
,in conformal, areas of countries/continent are distorted whereas in equivalent, areas of
countries/continents are preserved
Considering the case of Africa and Greenland, describe how map projections might
influence the perspective of the map viewer
it perpetuates a very eurocentric view of colonial dominance. africa appears smaller than
greenland despite africa actually being a continent that is larger than N.A/EU
How was a metre first defined and how is it defined now
original: "one ten-millionth of the
distance from the equator to the North Pole"
now: "length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of
1/299 792 458 of a second"
What is the name of the unit which is equal to 1000 nm
micrometre
Which covers more area, a small or large scale map
small
What are two ways scale can be indicated on a map
1) graphic scale (bar)
2) fractional scale (ratio/verbal)
,What kind of map scale would be appropriate for representing large countries and/or
continents?
small scale map (eg. 1:1500000)
What kind of map scale would be appropriate for representing a city neighbourhood
large small map (eg. 1:50000)
Name some 3 devices which can measure distances at different scales
1) optical microscope
* uses visible light and system of lenses to magnify small samples
2) electron microscope
* accelerated electrons used as source of illumination
3) telescope
* instruments that aid in observation of remote objects and detects different electromagnetic
radiations
What is the difference between relative and absolute positioning
relative = position determined by landmarks/features (eg. dead-reckoning)
absolute = coordinates of a point in space (eg. position fixing)
What is a geodetic marker
, they are number of fixed stations whose relative and absolute positions are accurately
established. These points can then be used to calculate other points by using
triangulation
In ocean navigation, which is easier to calculate, latitude or longitude. explain why
latitude as stars will consistently reach same highest point in sky and height in sky changes w/
observers latitude
What is the critical measurement to obtain an accurate longitude. are there any limitations
time. the accurate measurement of GMT v. time difference between local time
limitations: no precise way to keep accurate local time on the ship
What is an orbit
curved path around a celestial object created from gravitational attraction between two objects
What are the ways that we can define space
the density of the atmosphere
Which type of orbit would be used to monitor weather
geostationary orbits
Which type of orbit is used for GPS/GNSS tracking
far elliptical orbits
Which orbit is best for getting to and returning from space easily
