Question

When the time of day for a certain ship at sea is 12 noon, the time of day at the prime meridian (0 longitude0 is 5 pm. what is the ships longitude?

1)45W
2)45E
3)75W
4)75E

To an observer in Buffalo, New York, the North star, Polaris, is always located above the northern horizon at an altitude of approximately

1)23 1/2
2)43
3)66 1/2
4)90

Answer 1

A). The sun is highest in London, but will not pass the ship
for another 5 hours.

Since the sun moves from east to west, the ship must be
5 hours west of Greenwich.

Each hour of sun motion is 15° of longitude.
The ship's longitude is (5 x 15°) = 75° West.

The ship may be sailing down Columbia Boulevard
in Maple Shade, New Jersey.


B). The latitude at Buffalo's City Hall is 42.887° North.

Polaris is always within about 2/3 of a degree of that angle
above the northern horizon, when viewed from City Hall.

Choice 2) is the most appropriate.