Final answer:
Meridians divide the Earth into 360 degrees of longitude, with the Prime Meridian at 0 degrees passing through Greenwich, England.
Step-by-step explanation:
The meridians divide the Earth into 360 degrees, which correspond to the full circle of our planet's longitude system. The zero meridian, also known as the Prime Meridian, passes through Greenwich, England. From this line of longitude, which is set at 0 degrees, we count 180 degrees east (E) and 180 degrees west (W) to cover the full span of Earth's geography. This division allows every location on Earth to have a specific longitudinal address, indicating its position east or west of the Prime Meridian.
The prime meridian, which passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, is designated as 0 degrees longitude. All meridians west of the prime meridian are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees west, while all meridians east of the prime meridian are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees east.
Each meridian represents an east-west location, or longitude, on the Earth's surface. The coordinates of any place on the Earth can be determined by measuring the number of degrees of arc along the equator between that place's meridian and the prime meridian.