Where can I find a map projection map?
Map Projections map, Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Mapping Division, 1989, GRMC, University Libraries, Ball State University. Mercator projection: World Heritage Map, 2001, GRMC, University Libraries, Ball State University.
How are the properties of a projection chosen?
Angles, areas, directions, shapes, and distances can become distorted when transformed from a curved surface to a plane. Different projections have been designed where the distortion in one property is minimized, while other properties become more distorted. So map projections are chosen based on the purposes of the map.
What kind of transformation is a map projection?
This mathematical transformation is commonly referred to as a map projection. One easy way to understand how map projections alter spatial properties is to visualize shining a light through the earth onto a surface, called the projection surface.
Who was the inventor of the map projection?
The best known map projection is named for its inventor, Gerardus Mercator, who developed it in 1569. The Mercator projection is a cylindrical projection that was developed for navigation purposes. The Mercator projection was used for its portrayal of direction and shape, so it was helpful to the sailors of that time.
Where do lines of longitude meet on a map?
(Some have lines of longitude meeting at the poles; some have parallel lines of longitude; some have curved lines of longitude but do not meet at north and south poles.) Give students the worksheet Comparing Map Projections to the Globe and the handout Map Projections.
What are some examples of projection in geography?
Have students create a visual display or bulletin board about the challenges cartographers have faced and the issues that different projections present. If time allows, have them include more projections, such as Mollweide (Interrupted), Goode’s (Interrupted), and the Winkel Tripel and also a Pacific-centered map and an upside down world map.