Map projections provide techniques to properly display features on maps, globes and atlases.
=The curved surface of the earth cannot be shown accurately on a map because such a surface must be stretched or broken in some places as it is flattened. For this reason mapmakers use map projections.=
Distortion
It is a drawing of the earth on a flat surface
The Earth is a sphere, and true distances cannot be translated from a 3-dimensional form to a flat surface. Some maps are a form of the "gores" that can be cut from a globe to form a flat surface. But most use some form of projection that displays some aspects of the actual surface with some accuracy.The smaller the area of the map, the less the curvature, which reduces the errors introduced.
A map projection is a flat representation of the Earth's global surface. There are for different types of projections-- those that focus on distance, those that focus on direction, those that focus on area, and those that focus on shape. Conformal map projections are the type that show the correct size of continents but distort area size.
Cartographers use map projections to represent the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map. Different map projections distort the size, shape, distance, or direction of features on the map to varying degrees. Each projection has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the purpose of the map.
Because it's almost impossible to make a 3D object correctly placed in 2D. The different map projections are different people trying to be the most correct on their map projections. There's always going to be distortion... each projection has its pros and cons.
Distortion of shapes, sizes, and distances is likely to occur when cartographers represent the three-dimensional Earth on a two-dimensional map. This distortion is known as map projection, where different map projections prioritize different aspects such as area, distance, or direction. It is impossible to accurately represent the spherical Earth on a flat map without some degree of distortion.
Cartographers use a projection method to show the round Earth on a flat surface. Different types of map projections, such as Mercator or Robinson, are used to represent the Earth's curved surface in two dimensions while minimizing distortion of shape, area, distance, or direction.
To see different views of the Earth.
The three main types of map projections are cylindrical, conic, and azimuthal. Cylindrical projections show the Earth's surface on a cylinder, conic projections project the Earth's surface onto a cone, and azimuthal projections project the Earth's surface onto a plane. Each type has variations that can result in different map distortions.
To show Earth's curved surface on a flat map, cartographers use mathematical projections that distort the shape, size, distance, or direction of the map. Common projections include Mercator, Robinson, and Peters, each with its own strengths and weaknesses in representing the curved Earth on a two-dimensional map.
They project the surface of a sphere (the Earth) using a projection. Often the latitudes and longitudes are mapped onto the coordinate plane for small area but such projections distort shapes when mapping larger areas.
When cartographers represent the three-dimensional Earth in two dimensions what is likely to occur is distortion.
Cartographers use topographic maps to see the elevation of landforms. These maps use contour lines to represent the elevation of different features on the Earth's surface. Cartographers can interpret these lines to understand the terrain and elevation changes in an area.
Map makers are called cartographers. There are 3 generally accepted types of map projections. These are cylindrical projections, conic projects and planar projections.
When cartographers represent the three-dimensional Earth in two dimensions what is likely to occur is distortion.