What is the equator?

Our Planet

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Have you ever seen a globe? If so, then you already know that the shape of the Earth is kind of like a ball -- it's a round shape also known as a sphere. If you look at a globe of the Earth, then you’ll see that on either end are the North and South Poles. The equator is a special imaginary line that runs around the middle of the ball-shaped Earth. The line of the equator is placed so that it’s equal distance from each pole!

Because the equator is half way between the North and South Poles, it’s this line that we use to “divide” the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (halves). The equator is also used as a point to help us define where things are on Earth. By referring to the line of the equator, we can say that a specific place (like a country or city) is a certain distance “above” or “below” the equator!

Remember, the equator is not an actual line that runs like a ribbon through certain places on Earth. It’s an invisible line used on maps and globes that corresponds to specific locations on Earth, even though you can’t actually see it when you’re there.

Line it up!

Get a ball, like a basketball or a soccer ball, and a piece of string!

Define a spot on the top and the bottom of the ball and use some tape to mark them as your ball’s North and South Poles.

Then, hold or tie a string around the very middle of the ball, where you think it’s equal distance from each pole. – This is your equator!

Take a look above and below your “equator.” Put a small sticker somewhere on the ball, and then use the equator’s line to describe to someone else where the sticker is. Think about words like “above” and “below” as well as measurements like inches, or even measurements like “the width of two fingers”!