On a conformal map, meridians (lines of longitude) and parallels (lines of latitude) intersect at what angle?

On a conformal map, meridians (lines of longitude) and parallels (lines of latitude) intersect at what angle?

• A. Right angles
• B. Acute angles
• C. Parallel intersections
• D. Random angles

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that conformal maps preserve angles between curves locally. That means if two curves meet at a certain angle before the map, their images under a conformal map meet at the same angle after the map, provided the map’s derivative isn’t zero there. Meridians and parallels on a sphere intersect at right angles; they form an orthogonal grid. Since a conformal map preserves that intersection angle, their images also meet at right angles. So the best answer is right angles. The other options wouldn’t fit because an angle preserved from a right angle cannot become acute, parallel, or random after a conformal transformation.

The main idea is that conformal maps preserve angles between curves locally. That means if two curves meet at a certain angle before the map, their images under a conformal map meet at the same angle after the map, provided the map’s derivative isn’t zero there.

Meridians and parallels on a sphere intersect at right angles; they form an orthogonal grid. Since a conformal map preserves that intersection angle, their images also meet at right angles. So the best answer is right angles.

The other options wouldn’t fit because an angle preserved from a right angle cannot become acute, parallel, or random after a conformal transformation.