map showing distance across the flat earth

If we want to see the entire globe on a flat surface so we can see all the continents at once, we will need a map projection to do this.Įvery map projection has some qualities that it shows really well and others that it doesn’t. The closer you zoom in, the more you can see, from buildings to roads, landmarks, etc. You are able to see more details about that place the closer you get. As you are zooming around, pay attention to the shape of the land and how big they appear on the globe compared to one another. Pick two more continents or land masses to explore. Flip the globe to look at Antarctica, the North Pole or wherever you want to explore a little more. When you launch it you will be able to look at a another view of a virtual globe. Pay attention to sizes and how these places relate to each other on the earth. Spin the virtual globe around in all directions. Why might we choose different projections for different purposes?.How do map projections show the round earth in different ways?.What are the differences between maps and globes?.However, if you just need a map to learn about continents of the world, you might just want one that preserves the shape of continents all around the world. For example, if the mapmaker is trying to show where airplanes fly, they might choose one kind of map that shows accurate distance. Depending on the projection a cartographer uses, any one of these qualities can be distorted.Įvery mapmaker has to decide which projection will work best for what they want their map to do. These are: shape, size, direction & distance. It all depends on what the map is for, or its purpose.Įvery map projection has some qualities that it shows really well and others that it doesn’t. Mapmakers have many projections to choose from when they want to show the earth on a flat map. The maps in this exhibition have some funny sounding names: Azimuthal, Polyconic? You won’t have a new flat orange, but something that looks very different. Have you ever tried to flatten out an orange peel? What happens when you try to make the pieces line up perfectly to make them flat? You will have to squish and tear and move all the pieces around. The process of showing a round globe on a flat surface is called a projection. However, we can’t have a lot of detail on a globe unless we make it very, very big!

A catalog of globes from the late 19th centuryĪ globe is the most accurate way to show the world.

Map showing distance across the flat earth