The Earth is divided into northern and southern sections by which imaginary line?

The Earth is divided into northern and southern sections by the equator, which is an imaginary line that lies equidistant from the North and South Poles. This line runs horizontally around the middle of the Earth and is at 0 degrees latitude. The equator serves as a fundamental reference point for the grid system used in geography and navigation, marking the transition between the two hemispheres.

In contrast, the prime meridian is an imaginary vertical line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and divides the Earth into eastern and western sections, while the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are latitudinal lines that mark the boundaries of the tropics, but do not divide the Earth into northern and southern halves. The Tropic of Cancer is located at approximately 23.5 degrees north of the equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn is about 23.5 degrees south. Thus, these lines serve different purposes and do not have the same role in dividing the Earth as the equator does.