Page Level Ads

Finding Ship's Arrival Latitude

A ship sails from Lat. 34° 54' N and steams going south (180) for a distance of 372 miles. What is her arrival latitude?

Given:
            Latitude = 34° 54' N
           Distance = 372 nm

What is asked?

            Arrival latitude

Analysis:

We are in latitude 34° 54' N and is going south for a distance of 372 nm. It’s important to remember that equator is equal to zero latitude. So since our ship is in the northern hemisphere and going south, we can expect that our arrival latitude would be lesser.

Solution:

Step 1. Convert the distance into degrees. We can do it by dividing it by 60. Perhaps you asked why I divide it by 60. I divide it by 60 because one degree is equal to 60 minutes. And one minute of an arc is equal to one nautical mile.
                    1° = 60’
                    1’ = 1 nm
  
     372 nm ÷ 60 = 6° 12’ S - This could serve now as our Dlat (difference of latitude).

Step 2. Solving for arrival latitude.
             
              Rule in finding arrival latitude (L2):
                 + If signs are the same
                  - If signs are opposite
                 And then affix the sign of the greater number.
                  
                     L1 = 34° 54' N
                 -
                   Dlat = 6° 12’ S
                      L2 =  26° 42’ N is the ship’s arrival latitude.
    
Arrival Latitude

Related Posts