why is there an equator?

Answer 1

the equator is the longest line of latitude on the earth (the line where the earth is widest in an east-west direction), the tropics are based on the sun's position in relation to the earth at two points of the year. The equator is located at zero degrees latitude. The equator runs through Indonesia, Ecuador, northern Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya, among other countries. It is 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 kilometers) long. On the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes - near March and September 21. The equator divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. While the equator divides the earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, it is the Prime Meridian at zero degrees longitude and the line of longitude opposite the Prime Meridian (near the International Date Line) at 180 degrees longitude that divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The Eastern Hemisphere consists of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia while the Western Hemisphere includes North and South American. Some place the boundaries between the hemispheres at 20° West and 160° East so as to not run through Europe and Africa.

Answer 2

It is just an imaginary mark to draw the rotation orbit.
More info...

The equator is one of the five main circles of latitude based on the relationship of the Earth's rotation and plane of orbit around the sun. Additionally, the equator is the only line of latitude which is also a great circle.

The Sun, in its seasonal movement through the sky, passes directly over the equator twice each year on the March and September Equinoxes. At the equator, the rays of the sun are perpendicular to the surface of the earth on these dates.

Places near the equator experience the quickest rates of sunrise and sunset in the world, taking minutes. Such places also have a constant amount of day/night time (12 hours of each) on every day throughout the year, as opposed to with more northerly or southerly places.

Also, in relation to launching of satellites, the closeness of the launch centre requires the thrust to be comparatively lesser, and as one moves away from the equator, one has to ensure that the payload in the launch vehicle is not much, for to get into the right orbit, more thrust is required.

Answer 3

The equator is an imaginary line on earth's floor equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole. It to that end divides the Earth right into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere. The equators of alternative planets and astronomical bodies are defined analogously.

Answer 4

The equator is an imaginary, arbitrary line around the centre of the earth that ONLY exists on maps, to provide a point from which to measure the latitude and longitude. It doesn't really exist, if you will. Oh yes, it's marked by plaques in certain places, but it's not a physical ring around the globe. It's like the International Date Line, a created boundary to give mapmakers etc. somewhere to count from.

Answer 5

As the others said the equator is just something man made up to define the north and south hemispheres.

Answer 6

That's like asking why can you draw a line through the centre of a circle. Or asking why you can draw a line round a ball. It is just a line going around the centre of the earth. The position of the line is chosen regarding length of day during the year on that line.

Answer 7

The clue is in the name. It is the line that divides the globe into equal Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Answer 8

The equator is the circumfrance of the earth, a bit like
my waist but it dose'nt expand...

Answer 9

there isnt actually an equator,its an imaginary line that we pretend is there so that we can distinguish the northern hemisphere from the south.

Answer 10

as the earth rotates on an axis, there is an outer point that is always closest to the sun, this is the equator...