Modeling the Planet
Chapter 3
• Map
• Cartographers
• Map Projection
• Flat, 2-D
representation of
Earth
• Mapmakers!
• Maps drawn in
different ways
3 Map Projections
• 1 - Mercator
• Flat, grid-like map of
the earth
• Great for teaching
latitude and
longitude
• Distorts the areas
near the poles
• 2 - Gnomonic
• Used to show the
shortest distance
between 2 points
• Pilots and Captains
use it!
• Distorts the area near
the equator
• Polyconic
• The best of the three!
Map Scales
• Map Scale
• How the map’s
features compare in
size with Earth’s
surface
3 types of map scales
• Verbal
• Someone tells you
• Ratio
• 1:500 (1 inch on the
map equals 500
inches on the earth
• A line divided into
segments showing
distance on Earth
• Graphical
Hemispheres
• Hemisphere
• Equator
• The Earth is divided
into 2 hemispheres –
the northern and the
Southern
• The imaginary line
that divides the earth
into 2 halves
Globe
• Degrees
• 360 degrees in a
circle
• From the equator to
the north pole is 90
degrees
• From the north pole
to the south pole is
180 degrees
Equator
• Equator
• The line that divides
the Earth into the
Northenr and
Southern
hemispheres
Latitude
• Latitude
• Lines that run from
side to side
• Lines that run
parallel to the
equator
• Nicknamed parallels
• Measure degrees
north and south of
the equator
Prime Meridian
• Prime Meridian
• The line that divides
the Earth into
Eastern and western
hemispheres
• 0 degrees longitude
Longitude
• Longitude
• Lines that run up
and down
• Measures degrees
East and West of the
prime meridian