By Patti Hutchison
1What's the best way to get from New York City to Miami? To find your route, you would probably look on a road map. It will show all major roads that run between these two cities. A road map is a very useful tool, but did you know that there are other kinds of maps as well?
2Maps give us much information. There is one drawback, however. Maps are flat. The Earth is not. Maps can be very accurate, but they are only projections. A projection is a representation of a three dimensional object on a flat surface. Sort of like a photograph of you and your friends.
3There are different ways to project the Earth's surface onto a map. One type is called the cylindrical projection. It is also sometimes called a Mercator projection. Another type is called the conic projection. Still another is called the azimuthal projection. Each one is useful in its own way. However, each can distort either the size or the shape of the landmasses. It is not easy to draw a three-dimensional object on a flat piece of paper!
4Earth scientists are mostly interested in topographical maps. Topography is the mountains, plains, rivers, and other features of the Earth. A topographical map shows the different shapes and sizes of the land features. They show changes in elevation over the Earth's surface. Topographical maps use lines, symbols, and colors to show these changes.
5Elevation is the distance above or below sea level. Topographic maps use contour lines to show elevation. These lines connect points that have the same height above sea level. Each line represents a certain contour interval. This is the difference in elevation between one contour line and the next. For example, on a map with a contour interval of 10 meters, contour lines are drawn only at elevations of 0 meters, 10 meters, 20 meters, and so on. The difference in elevation between two lines drawn side by side is always 10 meters.
6Topographical maps are easy to read. If the lines are drawn close together, you know that the elevation of an area rises sharply. These are likely mountains or steep hills. If the lines are drawn far apart, the area has a gentler slope. But what about all those other features on the map, such as blue lines and black squares? How do you read them?
7A map should include a legend. This is a list of symbols used on a map. Next to the symbols is an explanation of what they stand for. For example, a squiggly blue line may indicate a river or a stream. A black square might be a building such as a school or church. The map legend will tell you.
8A map will also include a scale. To use this, you need to know how to measure. The scale is the ratio of the distance on a map to the actual distance on the Earth's surface. For example, let's say you want to know how many kilometers it is between a school on a map and a river indicated on that map.
9First, measure the distance between the two on the map using a ruler. Let's say it is two centimeters. Next, look at the scale. It might show that one centimeter is equal to ten kilometers. Then, set up a mathematical proportion to find out the actual distance. If one centimeter is equal to ten kilometers, two centimeters is equal to what? You've got it- twenty kilometers. Now you know that the river is twenty kilometers from the school.
10The most accurate representation of the Earth is a globe. A globe is a spherical model of the Earth. However, most people don't carry globes in their cars. If you want to find out about where you are, a map is a very convenient tool. Once you know how to read a map, it will be easy to use. Folding it back up might be difficult, however!
Copyright © 2011 edHelper
They are both accurate representations of an object.
Both can be in color or black and white.
Both represent a three dimensional object on a flat surface
The answer was in paragraph ____.
/ 2. / A representation of a three dimensional object on a flat surface is called:
A scale of miles
A projection
A globe
a conic projection
The answer was in paragraph ____.
3. / In what ways are maps distorted?
The size and shape of landmasses can be distorted.
The shape of a landmass can be distorted.
The size of a landmass can be distorted.
The location of a landmass can be distorted.
The answer was in paragraph ____.
/ 4. / What is another name for a Mercator projection?
azimuthal projection
cylindrical projection
conic projection
The answer was in paragraph ____.
5. / A topographical map shows _____.
the shapes of the land features.
the sizes of the land features.
shows the different shapes and sizes of the land features.
changes in elevation over the Earth's surface and the different shapes and sizes of the land features.
The answer was in paragraph ____.
/ 6. / What is a synonym for the distance above or below sea level?
elevator
scale
elevation
projection
The answer was in paragraph ____.
7. / What do lines that are drawn close together on a topographical map show?
mountains or steep hills
gentle sloops
a flat plain
The answer was in paragraph ____.
/ 8. / The meanings of the symbols on a map are explained in the map's:
legend
scale
contour lines
The answer was in paragraph ____.
9. / The ratio of the distance on a map to the actual distance on Earth's surface is called_____.
elevation legend
scale
The answer was in paragraph ____.
/ 10. / What is the most accurate representation of the Earth?
a map an aerial photograph
a model a globe
The answer was in paragraph ____.
Mapping the Earth's Surface
By Patti Hutchison / Answer Key
1What's the best way to get from New York City to Miami? To find your route, you would probably look on a road map. It will show all major roads that run between these two cities. A road map is a very useful tool, but did you know that there are other kinds of maps as well?
2Maps give us much information. There is one drawback, however. Maps are flat. The Earth is not. Maps can be very accurate, but they are only projections. #1#2A projection is a representation of a three dimensional object on a flat surface. Sort of like a photograph of you and your friends.
3There are different ways to project the Earth's surface onto a map. #4One type is called the cylindrical projection. It is also sometimes called a Mercator projection. Another type is called the conic projection. Still another is called the azimuthal projection. Each one is useful in its own way. However, #3each can distort either the size or the shape of the landmasses. It is not easy to draw a three-dimensional object on a flat piece of paper!
4Earth scientists are mostly interested in topographical maps. Topography is the mountains, plains, rivers, and other features of the Earth. A topographical map #5 shows the different shapes and sizes of the land features. They show changes in elevation over the Earth's surface. Topographical maps use lines, symbols, and colors to show these changes.
5#6Elevation is the distance above or below sea level. Topographic maps use contour lines to show elevation. These lines connect points that have the same height above sea level. Each line represents a certain contour interval. This is the difference in elevation between one contour line and the next. For example, on a map with a contour interval of 10 meters, contour lines are drawn only at elevations of 0 meters, 10 meters, 20 meters, and so on. The difference in elevation between two lines drawn side by side is always 10 meters.
6Topographical maps are easy to read. #7If the lines are drawn close together, you know that the elevation of an area rises sharply. These are likely mountains or steep hills. If the lines are drawn far apart, the area has a gentler slope. But what about all those other features on the map, such as blue lines and black squares? How do you read them?
7A map should include a #8legend. This is a list of symbols used on a map. Next to the symbols is an explanation of what they stand for. For example, a squiggly blue line may indicate a river or a stream. A black square might be a building such as a school or church. The map legend will tell you.
8A map will also include a scale. To use this, you need to know how to measure. #9The scale is the ratio of the distance on a map to the actual distance on the Earth's surface. For example, let's say you want to know how many kilometers it is between a school on a map and a river indicated on that map.
9First, measure the distance between the two on the map using a ruler. Let's say it is two centimeters. Next, look at the scale. It might show that one centimeter is equal to ten kilometers. Then, set up a mathematical proportion to find out the actual distance. If one centimeter is equal to ten kilometers, two centimeters is equal to what? You've got it- twenty kilometers. Now you know that the river is twenty kilometers from the school.
10#10The most accurate representation of the Earth is a globe. A globe is a spherical model of the Earth. However, most people don't carry globes in their cars. If you want to find out about where you are, a map is a very convenient tool. Once you know how to read a map, it will be easy to use. Folding it back up might be difficult, however!
Copyright © 2011 edHelper
They are both accurate representations of an object.
Both can be in color or black and white.
Both represent a three dimensional object on a flat surface
The answer was in paragraph __2__.
/ 2. / A representation of a three dimensional object on a flat surface is called:
A scale of miles
A projection
A globe
a conic projection
The answer was in paragraph __2__.
3. / In what ways are maps distorted?
The size and shape of landmasses can be distorted.
The shape of a landmass can be distorted.
The size of a landmass can be distorted.
The location of a landmass can be distorted.
The answer was in paragraph __3.
/ 4. / What is another name for a Mercator projection?
azimuthal projection
cylindrical projection
conic projection
The answer was in paragraph __3__.
5. / A topographical map shows _____.
the shapes of the land features.
the sizes of the land features.
shows the different shapes and sizes of the land features.
changes in elevation over the Earth's surface and the different shapes and sizes of the land features.
The answer was in paragraph __4__.
/ 6. / What is a synonym for the distance above or below sea level?
elevator
scale
elevation
projection
The answer was in paragraph __5__.
7. / What do lines that are drawn close together on a topographical map show?
mountains or steep hills
gentle sloops
a flat plain
The answer was in paragraph __6__.
/ 8. / The meanings of the symbols on a map are explained in the map's:
legend
scale
contour lines
The answer was in paragraph __7__.
9. / The ratio of the distance on a map to the actual distance on Earth's surface is called_____.
elevation legend
scale
The answer was in paragraph __8__.
/ 10. / What is the most accurate representation of the Earth?
a map an aerial photograph
a model a globe
The answer was in paragraph __10__.