Understanding Minutes and Seconds on the Globe
Understanding Minutes and Seconds on the Globe is an interesting topic to learn. Usually, in schools, teachers tell us about Latitudes and Longitudes, but very few teachers talk about Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds. Now the question is, have you ever come across a location written like 28° 36′ 15″ N, 77° 13′ 45″ E and wondered what those small numbers and symbols mean? These are not just random figures — they are part of a precise system to pinpoint any Earth location. It is a system based on latitude and longitude, a grid of imaginary lines that help us navigate the globe. While many people are familiar with degrees (°), fewer understand what Degrees, Minutes (′), and Seconds (″) represent. It is just like timekeeping. As in the case of time, we say it is 7 hrs, 15 minutes, and 22 seconds. In the same manner, we read the globe. Degrees are divided into smaller units to increase accuracy. This allows us to locate even a single building, tree, or landmark with great precision.
Whether you’re using a GPS, reading a map, or studying geography, understanding these smaller units is essential. In this article, we’ll break down what minutes and seconds mean in coordinates and why they’re so important for navigation and mapping.
Understanding Minutes and Seconds on the Globe
Global travel network
Introduction
Degrees
Degrees in latitude and longitude are the primary units.
They are often used to measure positions on the Earth’s surface.
As you know, our Earth is divided into 360 degrees.
Latitude ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° North or South at the poles. So there are 180 latitudes.
Similarly, longitude ranges from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° East or West. So, there are 360 longitudes.
Minutes
Minutes in latitude and longitude are smaller units.
It is used to increase the precision of a location.
Each degree (°) is divided into 60 minutes (′).
In other words, we can say that between any 2 degrees, there are 60 subdivisions.
This means that instead of jumping from one whole degree to another, we can use minutes to describe a more specific position within that degree.
Let us understand with an example:
A location might be given as 28° 30′ N. or 28 and a half degrees.
Now, this means that a place is located between 28° and 29°
Seconds:
Now, let us understand what seconds mean in the case of latitude and longitude.
Seconds in latitude and longitude are even smaller units.
It provides us with the highest level of accuracy when identifying a location.
We can say that each minute (′) is divided into 60 seconds (″).
Therefore, one degree equals 3,600 seconds.
Moreover, seconds allow us to pinpoint exact spots on Earth.
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Understanding Minutes and Seconds on the Globe
Importance
Just like time, geographic coordinates are divided into smaller units:
As we know, 1 degree (°) = 60 minutes (‘) as in the case of a clock: 1 Hour = 60 minutes.
Similarly, 1 minute (‘) = 60 seconds (“) as in the case of a clock: 1 minute = 60 seconds.
Therefore, this system allows for very precise location marking.
👉 Think of it like this:
If you say your house is on “Main Street,” that’s like giving the degree.
If you say it’s “halfway down Main Street,” that’s like adding minutes.
If you say “right next to the red mailbox,” that’s like the seconds — super specific!
Why Use Minutes and Seconds?
While degrees give a general location, minutes and seconds help us zoom in. They’re especially useful for:
GPS navigation
Surveying and mapping
Aviation and marine navigation
For example, two places with coordinates:
Twenty degrees, thirty-six minutes and 12 seconds North (28° 36′ 12″ N)
Twenty degrees, thirty-six minutes and 13 seconds North (28° 36′ 13″ N)
It indicates that the two places are only about 30 meters apart.
That’s how precise seconds can be!
Understanding With a Real Example
To understand in a better way, let’s break this down:
Coordinate: 28° 36′ 12″ N, 77° 13′ 48″ E
28° = degrees north of the equator
36′ = 36 minutes north
12″ = 12 seconds north
Same applies to longitude: 77° 13′ 48″ east of the Prime Meridian
This exact point might refer to a building, street corner, or even a tree — that’s how specific it is!
Why do teachers not explain Minutes and Seconds?
As a teacher, I can trace out the five possible reasons:
Pressure of completing Syllabus in time:
In most of the private schools in India, teachers often have a tight schedule.
Therefore, they have to focus only on core concepts required by the curriculum.
So, they prefer leaving out detailed explanations.
2. Assumption of Prior Knowledge
Some teachers may assume that students already have prior knowledge of these concepts.
Students may have learnt these concepts in math or geography.
Therefore, they skip over them.
3. Topics are complex for Beginners
Topics like Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds in latitude and longitude are not that easy to understand.
Moreover, the concept of dividing degrees can be confusing for younger students.
So teachers might avoid it to keep lessons simple.
4. Lack of Practical Examples For Teachers
Teachers often face certain problems while explaining these topics.
There is a lack of practical examples or teaching aids.
Without access to GPS tools or maps that use DMS, teachers may find it hard to demonstrate the real-world application in the classroom.
5. Lack of Knowledge
Many Social Science teachers also lack the knowledge.
Therefore, they discuss the latitudes and longitudes and avoid going into the details.
Due to the lack of knowledge, teachers skip the explanation of Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds.
Visual Aids for teaching
Teachers can use the following Visual Aids for explaining the concepts:
World Maps
Teachers can use World Maps with Latitude and Longitude grids.
Large wall maps or digital maps showing the coordinate grid will help the students visualize how the Earth is divided into degrees, minutes, and seconds.
2. Globe Models with Markings
Teachers while teaching can use a physical globe marked with degrees, latitude lines, and longitude lines.
It will allow students to see the three-dimensional aspect of the Earth’s coordinate system.
3. Using a Coordinate Chart or Table
Teachers can use a printed or projected chart.
It will help students understand the conversion and the scale of measurement.
4. GPS Apps or Tools
While teaching the topic, the teachers can use interactive GPS or mobile apps.
Making use of Google Earth will let students enter DMS coordinates.
It will help the students understand instantly the concept of degrees, minutes, and seconds.
Moreover, it will also make learning interactive and practical.
5. Classroom Activities
Classroom activities like worksheets or map-based games will help students locate places using DMS coordinates.
This, in turn, will reinforce understanding through hands-on learning.
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Understanding Minutes and Seconds on the Globe
In Summary
Minutes and seconds in latitude and longitude are just smaller units.
Latitude and longitude are coordinate systems used to locate any place on Earth.
These coordinates are measured in degrees (°), which are further divided into minutes (′) and seconds (″) to provide greater precision.
It helps us pinpoint locations with amazing accuracy.
Understanding them can help you read maps better, use GPS more effectively, and appreciate how detailed geography is!
Next time you see a location written like this: 40° 42′ 46″ N, 74° 0′ 21″ W You’ll know exactly what it means!
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