Which of the following explains why navigators a few hundred years ago found it much more difficult to determine their longitude than their latitude?
A)Determining longitude requires mathematical techniques that were not known at the time.
B)Determining longitude without modern instruments requires being able to see the Moon.
C)Determining longitude requires much more precise measurements of angles in the sky than does latitude.
D)Determining longitude requires having an accurate clock.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Navigators were able to determine their latitude by measuring the angle between the horizon and the North Star or the Sun. However, determining longitude requires knowing the difference between local time and the time at a reference location (such as Greenwich, England). This requires having an accurate clock, which was not available until the invention of the marine chronometer in the 18th century.

Which of the Following Explains Why Navigators a Few Hundred