A meteorological vessel measures its local solar time to be 3:20\text{ p.m.} when Greenwic… — JAMB UTME

A meteorological vessel measures its local solar time to be $3:20\text{ p.m.}$ when Greenwich Mean Time ( $0^\circ$ ) is $11:00\text{ a.m.}$ on the same day. What is the longitude of the vessel in degrees East?

Answer: 65 degrees East

Answer

The longitude of the vessel is

65^\circ\text{E}

The time difference between

3:20\text{ p.m.}

and

11:00\text{ a.m.}

is 4 hours and 20 minutes (

260\text{ minutes}

). Since the Earth rotates

1^\circ

every 4 minutes,

260\text{ minutes} \div 4 = 65^\circ

. Because the vessel's local solar time is ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, the vessel is located east of the Prime Meridian, yielding

65^\circ\text{E}

Step-by-Step Solution

Calculate time difference

4 hours 20 minutes (260 minutes)

Subtract GMT (11:00 a.m.) from local solar time (3:20 p.m.).

Convert time difference to longitude degrees

65 degrees

Divide total time difference in minutes (260) by 4 minutes per degree of Earth's rotation.

Determine longitudinal hemisphere

East

Local time is ahead of GMT, which indicates a position to the east of the Prime Meridian.

Key Concept

Calculation of longitude from local time and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) using Earth's rotation rate

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