In a government survey, what determines the boundaries in the East/West direction?

Boundaries in the East/West Direction in a Government Survey

In a government survey, what determines the boundaries in the East/West direction?

The boundaries in the East/West direction in a government survey are determined by the Prime Meridian and other meridians, or lines of longitude.

Final answer:

The boundaries in the East/West direction in a government survey are determined by the Prime Meridian and other meridians, or lines of longitude.

Explanation:

In a government survey, the boundaries in the East/West direction are determined by meridians, also known as lines of longitude. The Prime Meridian is the starting point from which these lines are measured. It sits at 0 degrees longitude, and divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, thus serving as a reference point for the Earth's longitudinal system. By international agreement, longitude is the number of degrees of arc along the equator between your meridian and the Prime Meridian. Meridians to the east of the Prime Meridian are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees east (E), and to the west are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees west (W).

When referencing the orientation of a compass needle while flying due west along the equator, the north pole of the needle, which is attracted to the Earth's south magnetic pole near the geographic North Pole, will point to your right when crossing the Prime Meridian. As you continue flying due west, the orientation of the needle will not change significantly because you are moving parallel to lines of longitude, and the geographic and magnetic poles are assumed to be in the same location for simplicity.