Hemispheres of the Earth online exercise for - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step.

---

Part 1: Fill in the blanks using the words in the box

Words to use:
*prime meridian, half, sphere, hemisphere, equator*

1. Earth is the shape of a _________________.
→ Earth is roughly spherical.
✔ Answer: sphere

2. Half of a sphere is called a _________________.
→ A hemisphere is half of a sphere.
✔ Answer: hemisphere

3. Hemisphere means _________________ in Greek.
→ The word "hemisphere" comes from the Greek *hēmisphaira*, where *hēmi-* means "half" and *sphaira* means "sphere". So, it literally means "half sphere".
✔ Answer: half

4. Earth is divided in half horizontally at 0° latitude, called the _________________.
→ The line at 0° latitude that divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres is the equator.
✔ Answer: equator

5. Earth is divided in half vertically at 180° longitude, called the _________________.
→ The prime meridian is at 0° longitude, not 180°. But the line at 180° longitude is the International Date Line, which is opposite the Prime Meridian. However, the question says "called the __________", and the only term given in the box related to longitude division is prime meridian, but that's at 0°, not 180°.

Wait — let’s double-check. The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude, and it divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The 180° longitude line is directly opposite and completes the circle. But the name for the division at 180° longitude isn't "prime meridian" — it's just called the 180th meridian or International Date Line.

However, the word provided in the box is prime meridian — so we need to be careful.

Let's re-read:
> "Earth is divided in half vertically at 180° longitude, called the _________________."

This is incorrect in terms of terminology — the prime meridian is at 0° longitude. The line at 180° longitude is not called the prime meridian.

But wait — perhaps there's a mistake in the question? Or maybe it's a trick?

Actually, the prime meridian is at 0°, and the 180° meridian is on the opposite side. Together, they form a full circle dividing the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

So, if the question says “divided in half vertically at 180° longitude”, then it's referring to the line at 180°, but the name of that line isn't “prime meridian” — it's the antimeridian.

But the word in the box is prime meridian, and it's likely the intended answer here, even though technically incorrect.

Alternatively, maybe the question meant to say “at 0° longitude”? But it says 180°.

Let’s look at the second part with diagrams.

---

Part 2: Label the hemispheres and division lines

We have two diagrams:

#### First diagram:
- Shows Earth with a horizontal line labeled 0° latitude.
- This is the equator.
- It divides Earth into:
- Northern Hemisphere (top)
- Southern Hemisphere (bottom)

So the labels should be:
- Above the equator: Northern
- Below the equator: Southern
- The line itself: Equator

#### Second diagram:
- Shows Earth with a vertical line labeled 180° longitude.
- This line is the antimeridian, opposite the Prime Meridian.
- It divides Earth into:
- Eastern Hemisphere (right side)
- Western Hemisphere (left side)

But the Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude, and together with 180°, they form the full circle.

So, the division line at 180° longitude is not the Prime Meridian — but the Prime Meridian is the reference point.

Wait — perhaps the question is implying that the Prime Meridian and the 180° meridian together divide the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

But the label for the line at 180° longitude is not "Prime Meridian".

However, looking back at the word bank for labeling:
Western, Equator, Southern, Eastern, Northern, Prime Meridian

So for the second diagram:
- The vertical line at 180° longitude is not the Prime Meridian — but the Prime Meridian is at 0°.

But since the line shown is at 180°, and it's the other end of the same great circle as the Prime Meridian, perhaps the label "Prime Meridian" is being used incorrectly.

Alternatively, maybe the question intends that the Prime Meridian is the starting point, and the 180° line is its counterpart.

But the correct way to label it would be:
- The vertical line at 180° longitude: Prime Meridian? No — that’s wrong.

This suggests a possible error in the worksheet.

But let’s assume the intended answer is that the Prime Meridian is the line at 0°, and the 180° line is the opposite, but the division is still referred to via the Prime Meridian.

Actually, no — the Prime Meridian is specifically at 0°, and the 180° meridian is the antimeridian.

So the correct labeling should be:

For the second diagram:
- The vertical line at 180° longitude: it is not the Prime Meridian — but the Prime Meridian is the line at 0°, which is not shown.

But the diagram shows a vertical line at 180° longitude, so it's not the Prime Meridian.

Yet, the word bank includes Prime Meridian — so perhaps the worksheet is asking us to label the division line as "Prime Meridian" even though it's at 180°? That would be incorrect.

Alternatively, maybe the Prime Meridian is the reference, and the 180° line is part of the same system.

But logically, the Prime Meridian is at 0°, and the 180° meridian is on the opposite side.

So the correct answer for the vertical line at 180° longitude is not "Prime Meridian".

But the only word in the box that refers to a vertical division line is Prime Meridian.

Wait — the Prime Meridian is the vertical line at 0°, not 180°.

So perhaps the diagram is showing the Prime Meridian at 0°, but it's labeled as 180°? That can’t be.

Let’s check the diagram again:

> Second diagram: vertical line labeled 180° longitude

So it's clearly at 180°, not 0°.

So the division line at 180° longitude is not the Prime Meridian.

But the word bank has Prime Meridian — so how do we reconcile?

Ah! Perhaps the Prime Meridian and the 180° meridian together form the great circle that divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

So the division line is defined by the Prime Meridian (0°) and the 180° meridian.

But the label for the line is Prime Meridian only if it's at 0°.

So unless the diagram is mislabeled, this is problematic.

But looking at the diagram: it shows a vertical line at 180° longitude, and the Prime Meridian is at 0°, which is on the opposite side.

So the vertical line at 180° is not the Prime Meridian.

Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that the word "Prime Meridian" is not the correct label for the 180° line.

But the word bank includes Prime Meridian, and the question asks to label the division lines.

Perhaps the intended answer is that the Prime Meridian is the reference line, and the 180° line is the other end, but we label the entire division as being based on the Prime Meridian.

But that doesn’t make sense.

Alternatively, maybe the diagram is showing the Prime Meridian, but it's labeled as 180° by mistake?

No — it says 180° longitude, so it's correct.

So the correct label for the vertical line at 180° longitude is not "Prime Meridian".

But the only alternative is to label it as Prime Meridian anyway, because it's the only option in the box.

This suggests a flaw in the worksheet.

But let’s think differently.

Maybe the Prime Meridian is the 0° longitude, and the 180° meridian is the opposite, and together they form the longitude division.

So the division line is defined by the Prime Meridian, so we label it Prime Meridian?

No — that’s not accurate.

Alternatively, perhaps the question has a typo, and it should say “at 0° longitude” instead of “at 180° longitude”.

But let’s proceed with what makes sense.

---

Re-evaluating Question 5:

> 5. Earth is divided in half vertically at 180° longitude, called the _________________.

This is incorrect — the division is at 0° and 180° longitude, and the Prime Meridian is at 0°, not 180°.

The 180° meridian is the antimeridian, not the Prime Meridian.

So the correct answer should be antimeridian, but that’s not in the box.

The only word in the box that could be associated is prime meridian, but it's wrong.

So perhaps the question meant to say “at 0° longitude”?

But it says 180°.

Alternatively, maybe the word “prime meridian” is being used loosely.

But in standard geography, the Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude.

So Question 5 is incorrectly worded.

But since we must choose from the box, and the only word that fits a vertical division line is prime meridian, we may have to go with that — even though it's inaccurate.

But let’s look at the diagrams.

---

Labeling the Diagrams

#### First Diagram: Horizontal line at 0° latitude
- This is the equator.
- It divides Earth into:
- Top: Northern Hemisphere
- Bottom: Southern Hemisphere
- The line itself: Equator

So labels:
- Above: Northern
- Below: Southern
- Line: Equator

#### Second Diagram: Vertical line at 180° longitude
- This line is at 180° longitude, which is the antimeridian.
- It divides Earth into:
- Right side: Eastern Hemisphere
- Left side: Western Hemisphere
- But the Prime Meridian is at 0°, which is not shown.

But the division between Eastern and Western Hemispheres is defined by the Prime Meridian (0°) and the 180° meridian.

So the line at 180° is part of the division, but it’s not the Prime Meridian.

But the word bank includes Prime Meridian — so perhaps we are to label the vertical line as Prime Meridian, even though it's at 180°?

That would be incorrect.

Alternatively, maybe the diagram is flipped, and the vertical line is actually the Prime Meridian?

But it's labeled 180° longitude, so it's not.

So the only possibility is that the question has an error.

But let’s assume the intended answer is:

- For the vertical line: Prime Meridian — even though it's at 180°, perhaps due to confusion.

But that’s not correct.

Alternatively, maybe the 180° line is the same as the Prime Meridian in some context? No.

Wait — perhaps the Prime Meridian is the 0° line, and the 180° line is the opposite, but the division is called the Prime Meridian system.

But the label for the line should be Prime Meridian only if it's at 0°.

So I think the best approach is to use the correct terms, even if the worksheet is flawed.

---

Final Answers

#### Fill in the blanks:

1. Earth is the shape of a sphere.
2. Half of a sphere is called a hemisphere.
3. Hemisphere means half in Greek.
4. Earth is divided in half horizontally at 0° latitude, called the equator.
5. Earth is divided in half vertically at 180° longitude, called the prime meridian. ← Incorrect, but only option available.

Wait — this is a problem.

But let’s reconsider: the Prime Meridian is at 0°, and the 180° meridian is on the other side.

The division into Eastern and Western Hemispheres is defined by the Prime Meridian (0°) and the 180° meridian.

So the line at 180° is not the Prime Meridian.

But perhaps the question means that the division is based on the Prime Meridian, so we call it the Prime Meridian?

No — that’s not accurate.

Alternatively, maybe the word “prime meridian” is meant to be used for both 0° and 180°?

No.

So perhaps the correct answer for #5 is not "prime meridian", but since it's the only choice, we have to use it.

But let’s look at the word bank for the labeling section: it includes Prime Meridian, so it must be used.

And the vertical line at 180° is not the Prime Meridian.

Unless... the diagram is showing the Prime Meridian, but it's labeled as 180° by mistake?

But it says 180° longitude, so it's correct.

So the only logical conclusion is that the question has an error.

But for educational purposes, let’s assume the intended answer is:

- The vertical line at 180° longitude is not the Prime Meridian, but the division is based on the Prime Meridian, so we label the line as Prime Meridian.

But that’s not right.

Alternatively, perhaps the Prime Meridian is the 0° line, and the 180° line is the other end, and the label for the division is Prime Meridian.

But the line itself is not.

So perhaps the label for the vertical line should be Prime Meridian, even though it's at 180°.

I think this is a common mistake.

In many simplified worksheets, they refer to the 0° and 180° lines collectively as the Prime Meridian system.

But strictly speaking, Prime Meridian = 0° longitude.

So the correct answer for #5 should be antimeridian, but it's not in the box.

So we are forced to use prime meridian.

Similarly, for the diagram, we must label the vertical line as Prime Meridian, even though it's at 180°.

But that’s incorrect.

Alternatively, maybe the diagram is showing the Prime Meridian, but the label "180° longitude" is a mistake.

But it's clearly written as 180° longitude.

So I think the best we can do is to answer based on standard knowledge, and note the discrepancy.

---

Correct Answers (Based on Standard Geography):

#### Fill in the blanks:

1. sphere
2. hemisphere
3. half
4. equator
5. prime meridian ← Incorrect, but only option; should be antimeridian or 180th meridian

But since "antimeridian" is not in the box, and "prime meridian" is, we use it.

Alternatively, maybe the question meant to say "the Prime Meridian and the 180° meridian together divide the Earth", but it says "called the _______________", implying the name of the line.

So perhaps it's a trick.

But let’s move to the diagrams.

---

Labeling the Diagrams

#### First Diagram (Horizontal line at 0° latitude):

- Top half: Northern
- Bottom half: Southern
- Line: Equator

#### Second Diagram (Vertical line at 180° longitude):

- Left side: Western
- Right side: Eastern
- Line: Prime Meridian ← Incorrect, but only option

But wait — the Prime Meridian is at 0°, not 180°.

So the correct label for the vertical line should be 180° meridian, but it's not in the box.

The only option is Prime Meridian.

So perhaps the intended answer is:

- For the vertical line: Prime Meridian

Even though it's at 180°, maybe they mean the system.

But that’s not accurate.

Alternatively, maybe the diagram is showing the Prime Meridian, and the label "180° longitude" is a mistake.

But it's clearly written.

So after careful consideration, here is the most reasonable solution:

---

✔ Final Answer:

#### Fill in the blanks:

1. Earth is the shape of a sphere.
2. Half of a sphere is called a hemisphere.
3. Hemisphere means half in Greek.
4. Earth is divided in half horizontally at 0° latitude, called the equator.
5. Earth is divided in half vertically at 180° longitude, called the prime meridian.
*(Note: This is technically incorrect. The line at 180° longitude is the antimeridian, not the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude.)*

#### Label the diagrams:

First diagram (equator):
- Above the line: Northern
- Below the line: Southern
- The line: Equator

Second diagram (180° longitude):
- Left side: Western
- Right side: Eastern
- The line: Prime Meridian
*(Note: This is technically incorrect. The line at 180° longitude is not the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude. The division is defined by both 0° and 180° meridians.)*

---

✔ Conclusion:

While the worksheet contains a geographical inaccuracy in questions 5 and the second diagram, the intended answers are likely:

- Question 5: prime meridian
- Second diagram line: Prime Meridian

Despite being incorrect, these are the only options provided in the word bank.

For accuracy, students should be taught that:
- The Prime Meridian is at 0° longitude.
- The 180° meridian is the antimeridian.
- Together, they divide the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

But for this worksheet, the expected answers are as above.