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The Earth is pretty much spherical, or "ball-shaped". Maps are pretty much flat. To display a round Earth on a flat map means that you are going to introduce some error and distortion. We can make many different kinds of maps by "projecting" the spherical Earth onto differently-shaped flat surfaces. Imagine the Earth as a glass globe with a light inside; now imagine holding a flat sheet of cardboard just touching the Earth at one point. At THAT POINT, the image of the Earth is accurately projected onto the cardboard.
There are a number of different types of maps, named for the kind of projection they use. A Mercator projection imagines that you have rolled up the map into a cylinder of paper, touching the Earth at the equator. Areas of the map close to the equator will be accurately depicted, but the farther north or south you go, the more distortion you will see.
For example, a Mercator projection of the Earth will depict Greenland, far to the north, as being bigger than South America. And yet, South America is much larger than Greenland.
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Which type of map dispalys a flat representation of a round object?
a mercator map
Why was the Mercator Map created?
The Mercator map was created in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator. The projection's creator wanted to create a map that would be helpful in navigating the world's seas. The map is set up on a useful grid. However, the map is clearly distorted! At the north and south ends of the map, Antarctica and Greenland are just two examples of landforms that appear far bigger than they should. Areas and distances are not portrayed accurately on this map
Does an equal-area map or a mercator map show the true size of Australia?
A equal-area map shows the "true" size of Australia.
Why is the Mercator map still use today?
because it shows the directions accurately
Who was the first man to draw a map of the earth on flat surface?
gerhardus mercator
What did Gerardus Mercator invent?
Geardus Mercator invented the Mercator Map in 1569
What do you call the location in the center of the map?
The location on the center of a map is called the mercator
What type of map is a Mercator map?
Mercator is not a map, but a map projection, i.e. a way of representing the continents on a map. The Mercator projection is only accurate between 30 degrees north and south latitude. The further away you go from that point, the greater the exaggeration.
Mercator projection what popular map in classrooms in the US is what kind of map.?
Mercator projection what popular map in classrooms in the US is what kind of map?
Mercator projection what popular map in classrooms in the US is what kind of map?
Mercator projection what popular map in classrooms in the US is what kind of map?
What type of map is gps map?
mercator map
What is the shortage airline distance between Chicato to London on a Mercator map?
On a Mercator map it is a straight line.
How does the Mercator map misrepresent the earth?
latitude and longitude are the same as the Mercator
What type of map projection is used by ship navigation?
Mercator
What is the Mercator projection map?
The Mercator system is a cylindrical map projection. It is essentially the shape of globe on a flat surface. It was first designed by mapmaker Gerardus Mercator in 1569.
What map was created to help navigators?
the Mercator map
Would Greenland be smaller on a Mercator or a Robinson map projection?
It would show up smaller on a Mercator map projection
