The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The Prime Meridian serves as the reference line for longitude (0°), dividing the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Unlike latitude, there is no natural starting position for longitude, necessitating an international consensus.
Statement 1 is Correct:
The Prime Meridian passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, near London. It serves as the zero-degree longitude line from which other meridians are calculated.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
The Prime Meridian is the starting point (0°) for numbering meridians, not the ending point. The numbering of meridians proceeds eastward and westward from the Prime Meridian and concludes at the 180° meridian (which roughly corresponds to the International Date Line).
Statement 3 is Correct:
Unlike parallels of latitude, all meridians are of equal length, making it difficult to select a natural reference point. Consequently, nations reached an agreement (International Meridian Conference, 1884) to begin the count of longitude from the meridian passing through Greenwich.
Key Takeaway:
The Prime Meridian (0°) is the internationally agreed-upon starting point for measuring longitude, while the 180° meridian represents the limit of this measurement in both east and west directions.