Finding the Indian State Capital Closest to the Equator

The question asks us to identify which of the given Indian state capitals is geographically closest to the Earth's Equator. The Equator is an imaginary line that circles the Earth at 0 degrees latitude, dividing the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Locations closer to the Equator have latitude values closer to 0 degrees.

To determine which city is closest to the Equator, we need to consider the approximate latitude of each state capital provided in the options:

• Hyderabad (Capital of Telangana)
• Bhubaneswar (Capital of Odisha)
• Panaji (Capital of Goa)
• Mumbai (Capital of Maharashtra)

Comparing Latitudes of the Capitals

Let's look up the approximate latitudes for these cities:

Since all these cities are in the Northern Hemisphere, their latitudes are measured in degrees North. The closer the latitude value is to \(0^{\circ}\), the closer the city is to the Equator.

Let's compare the absolute values of the latitudes (which is the same as the values themselves, as they are all positive North latitudes):

• Hyderabad: \(\text{17.4}^{\circ}\)
• Bhubaneswar: \(\text{20.3}^{\circ}\)
• Panaji: \(\text{15.3}^{\circ}\)
• Mumbai: \(\text{19.1}^{\circ}\)

Comparing these values, \(\text{15.3}^{\circ}\) (Panaji) is the smallest value among the four. This means Panaji's latitude is closest to \(0^{\circ}\) latitude (the Equator).

Conclusion

Based on their approximate latitudes, Panaji is geographically closest to the Equator compared to Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Mumbai.

Revision Table: Indian State Capitals and Latitude

Additional Information: Latitude and Equator

Latitude is a geographical coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface. Lines of constant latitude, or parallels, run east-west as circles parallel to the Equator. The Equator is the starting point for measuring latitude, defined as \(\text{0}^{\circ}\). Latitudes range from \(\text{0}^{\circ}\) at the Equator to \(\text{90}^{\circ}\) North at the North Pole and \(\text{90}^{\circ}\) South at the South Pole. Knowing a location's latitude is key to understanding its position relative to the Equator and its general climate zone (e.g., tropical areas are typically closer to the Equator).