Map projections are ways to flatten the Earth's surface onto a flat map. Because the Earth is a sphere, converting it to a flat surface always involves some distortion. Different projections prioritize different aspects like shape, area, distance, or direction. Understanding map projections helps us interpret maps accurately and realize the limitations of representing a 3D world in 2D. For grade 7, it's important to grasp why maps look different and what each type of map tries to show accurately.
Match the term to its definition:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Map Projection | A. The misrepresentation of shape, area, distance, or direction when projecting a 3D surface onto a 2D plane. |
| 2. Distortion | B. A way to represent the Earth's curved surface on a flat plane. |
| 3. Equator | C. A map that accurately shows the shapes of landmasses but distorts their sizes. |
| 4. Conformal Map | D. The imaginary line that circles the Earth halfway between the North and South Poles. |
| 5. Equal Area Map | E. A map that accurately represents the relative sizes of landmasses but distorts their shapes. |
Match the correct definition to the term. (e.g., 1-B)
Fill in the missing words in the paragraph below:
A map ________ is a way to represent the Earth's curved surface on a flat map. All map projections introduce some level of ________ because it's impossible to perfectly flatten a sphere. The choice of projection depends on what the map is used for; some preserve ________ while others preserve ________.
Why is it important to understand that all maps are distorted in some way?
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