All parallels are of equal length.
Explanation
Parallels of latitude are imaginary circles running east-west around the Earth, parallel to the equator. They are used to determine the north-south position of a location relative to the equatorial plane.Option Analysis:
- They are measured in degrees. is Correct: Latitude is the angular distance of a point on the Earth's surface, measured in degrees from the center of the Earth.
- The equator is the largest parallel. is Correct: The equator (0° latitude) is the longest parallel and is known as a Great Circle. It divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- All parallels are of equal length. is Incorrect: Since the Earth is spherical (specifically an oblate spheroid), the circumference of the parallels decreases as one moves from the equator toward the poles. The equator is the longest, and the circles get progressively smaller at higher latitudes.
- 90 degrees north latitude is a point. is Correct: At 90° North and 90° South, the circles of latitude shrink to zero circumference, becoming single points known as the North Pole and South Pole, respectively.
Key Takeaway: Unlike meridians of longitude, which are all of equal length, parallels of latitude vary in length, decreasing from the equator to the poles.