Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 214

If you dug a hole through the centre of the earth starting from Bengaluru, where would you end up in the other side of the earth?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the longitude and latitude of Bengaluru and the opposite side of the Earth.

Correct Answer: D) Pacific Ocean.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, Civil Services

Difficulty: Moderate

Explanations:

The concept of antipodes is a fundamental geographical idea that involves understanding the Earth's spherical shape and the concept of diametrically opposite points on its surface. When considering the antipode of a specific location, such as Bengaluru, it is essential to understand the Earth's coordinates and how they relate to the opposite side of the globe.

Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is a major city in India located at approximately 12.9716° N latitude and 77.5946° E longitude. To find the antipode of Bengaluru, we need to determine the point on the Earth's surface that is directly opposite to it. This involves calculating the coordinates of the antipode by inverting the latitude and adding or subtracting 180 degrees from the longitude.

The latitude of the antipode will be the negative of Bengaluru's latitude, which is -12.9716° (or 12.9716° S). The longitude of the antipode will be 77.5946° E + 180°, which is 257.5946° E. However, since longitudes are typically expressed between 0° and 180°, we can convert 257.5946° E to 102.4054° W (360° - 257.5946° = 102.4054°).

Thus, the antipode of Bengaluru is located at approximately 12.9716° S latitude and 102.4054° W longitude. This point falls within the Pacific Ocean, which is why the correct answer is the Pacific Ocean.

It is important to note that the antipode of a location can be in the ocean or on land, depending on the specific coordinates of the starting point. In this case, the antipode of Bengaluru is in the Pacific Ocean, which is a vast body of water covering a significant portion of the Earth's surface.

Understanding antipodes is useful in various geographical and navigational contexts, such as determining the shortest path between two points on the Earth's surface or understanding the distribution of land and water on the globe. It also helps in comprehending the global distribution of climate zones, ecosystems, and human settlements.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This option is incorrect because the antipode of Bengaluru is not in Venezuela. Venezuela is located in South America, which is not directly opposite Bengaluru on the globe.
  • Option B: This option is incorrect because the antipode of Bengaluru is not in the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is not directly opposite Bengaluru on the globe.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect because the antipode of Bengaluru is not in Peru. Peru is located in South America, which is not directly opposite Bengaluru on the globe.
  • Option D: This option is correct because the antipode of Bengaluru is in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean is directly opposite Bengaluru on the globe, making it the correct answer.

Mnemonic: Antipodes: "Anti" for opposite, "Podes" for feet, meaning opposite feet on Earth.

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