Big Questions
Why do we need different kinds of maps?
Different kinds of maps show different kinds of information.
a drawing or picture on a flat piece of paper of a specific place or area of Earth’s surface that shows different features
What is a map?
the distance between the equator and a place north or south of the equator; measured in degrees
What is latitude?
generally follows 180˚ longitude; by international agreement, the calendar day on the east side of the line is one day earlier than the calendar day on the west side of the line
What is the international date line?
a distance of one thousand meters, or 0.62 miles
What is a kilometer?
How are meridians and parallels—lines identifying longitude and latitude—helpful?
Meridians and parallels are helpful because they let us know where we are on Earth relative to the equator and prime meridian. They also define where the hemispheres are. Using meridians and parallels together make up the coordinate system that helps us identify our exact position.
an object or picture that stands for something else
What is a symbol?
the distance east or west of an imaginary line on the globe that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole and passes through Greenwich, England; measured in degrees
What is longitude?
one of twenty-four zones around Earth within which everyone observes the same time
What is a time zone?
how far it is from one point to another
What is distance?
Coordinates include a unit of measure called a “degree.” What does a degree measure?
Degrees measure the space between parallels and meridians. Degrees are broken into sixty minutes that make finding an exact location even more precise.
a table or chart that tells you what the parts of a map mean; the key is usually found in one of the corners of the map
What is a map key?
an imaginary line that runs north-south on a globe or map but measures degrees of longitude east or west of the prime meridian
What is meridian?
an imaginary line around which a spinning object spins
What is an axis?
a book of maps
What is an atlas?
How are time zones and Earth’s rotation connected?
Earth is broken into twenty-four time zones. This relates to the twenty-four hours in a day that it takes Earth to rotate around its axis, completing a full day.
a measuring tool on a map that shows how distances on the map relate to actual distances on the ground
What is a map scale?
the imaginary north-south line that runs through Greenwich, England; 0° longitude
What is Prime Meridian?
the movement of a spinning object
What is rotation?
a view of something from above, as a bird might see it
What is a birds eye view?
What does a physical map reveal that a city road map does not?
Physical maps show information about the terrain of the land. Where as a city road map shows only roads and other similar details, physical maps can tell you about features such as rivers, mountain ranges, and elevation that may impact your trip.
a symbol on a map that shows the directions for north, south, east, and west
What is a compass rose?
the imaginary east-west line on a globe or map that is an equal distance from the North and South Poles; 0° latitude
What is the equator?
the number of time zones in the United states
What is six?
a type of map that shows the distribution of one or more of Earth’s physical features; for example, taller land areas, such as mountains, and lower land areas, such as valleys
What is a physical map?