BIG emergency, im running out of time, EArth science pls helpppp?

Question

if you know this very well, pls try to give me a clear answer...in simple words. i cannot figure this out.
''you are on a boat which is crossing the Prime meridian. the altitude of polaris is 50 degrees. explain how you know the boat's location is 50 degrees north latitude and 0 longitude.''
..duh cuz they told us? lol
pls pls help. thanks.

Answer 1

Polaris (the Pole Star or North Star) is the star at which the earth's geographic North Pole is pointing (within 1 degree anyway). So if you are crossing the Prime Meridian and you look at Polaris and it's altitude is 0 degrees (at the horizon), then you are on the equator (0 degrees latitude). If the altitude is 90 degrees (directly overhead) then you are on the North Pole (90 degrees north). And if the altitude is 50 degrees, you are on the 50 degrees north line.