Equator vs. Tropics — What's the Difference?

The Earth's equator is an imaginary planetary line that is about 40,075 km (24,901 mi) long in circumference. The equator divides the planet into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere and is located at 0 degrees latitude, the halfway line between the North Pole and South Pole.In spatial (3D) geometry, as applied in astronomy, the equator of a rotating spheroid (such as a planet) is the parallel (circle of latitude) at which latitude is defined to be 0°.

The tropics are the region of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are delimited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at 23°26′11.3″ (or 23.43649°) N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at 23°26′11.3″ (or 23.43649°) S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth.

The imaginary great circle around the earth's surface, equidistant from the poles and perpendicular to the earth's axis of rotation. It divides the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

Plural of tropic

A similar great circle drawn on the surface of a celestial body at right angles to the axis of rotation.

(geography) The region of the Earth centred on the equator and lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn and characterized by a hot climate.

The celestial equator.

The part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate

A circle that divides a sphere or other surface into congruent parts.

An imaginary great circle around Earth, equidistant from the two poles, and dividing earth's surface into the northern and southern hemisphere.

(astronomy) A similar great circle on any sphere, especially on a celestial body, or on other reasonably symmetrical three-dimensional body.

The midline of any generally spherical object, such as a fruit or vegetable, that has identifiable poles.

The celestial equator.

The imaginary great circle on the earth's surface, everywhere equally distant from the two poles, and dividing the earth's surface into two hemispheres.

The great circle of the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of the earth's equator; - so called because when the sun is in it, the days and nights are of equal length; hence called also the equinoctial, and on maps, globes, etc., the equinoctial line.

An imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles;

A circle dividing a sphere or other surface into two usually equal and symmetrical parts