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Topic 5: Earth geometry and time zones

Locations on the Earth

5 hours

• Understand the meaning of great circles. 1 interactive
• Understand the meaning of angles of latitude and longitude (in decimal degrees, and degrees and minutes) in relation to the equator and the prime meridian respectively. 1 interactive
• Locate positions on Earth’s surface given latitude and longitude, e.g. using a globe, map, GPS and other digital technologies.
• State latitude and longitude for positions on Earth’s surface, e.g. investigating a map of Australia and locating boundary positions for Aboriginal peoples’ and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ language groups, Australian landmarks or local land boundaries.
• Calculate angular distance and distance between two places on Earth on the same meridian.
• Calculate angular distance and distance between two places on Earth on the same parallel of latitude.
• Solve practical problems involving latitude, longitude, angular distance and distance.

Time zones

5 hours

• Understand the meaning of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), International Date Line and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
• Understand the link between longitude and time. 1 interactive
• Determine the number of degrees of longitude for a given time difference.
• Calculate time differences between two places on Earth.
• Solve practical problems involving time zones, making allowances for daylight saving where necessary, e.g. seasonal time systems used by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, making phone calls, broadcasting events, travelling, preparing an itinerary.