Map Basics
This is a flat drawing of all or part of Earth's surface
What is a map?
This is the process of flattening out the 3D, round earth onto a 2D piece of paper
What is a map projection?
If a map scale says "1 inch = 50 miles," this is how many real-life miles 3 inches on the map represents.
What is 150 miles?
This tool shows a round, 3D model of the Earth
What is a globe?
Because you cannot flatten a sphere without stretching it, map projections always cause this problem with size, shape, or distance
What is distortion?
This part of a map, often located at the top, tells you exactly what area or topic the map is about.
What is the map title?
This part of a map explains what the symbols, lines, and colors mean
What is a map key/legend?
This famous cylindrical map projection keeps direction accurate but makes landmasses near the poles look much larger than they really are
What is the Mercator projection?
When looking at a standard map, you will almost always find this cardinal direction at the very top.
What is North?
This tool on a map helps you figure out the real life distance between two places
What is a map scale?
This type of map projection curves the edges or minimizes overall distortion by showing the whole globe in a flattened, oval-like shape rather than a rectangle
What is a Robinson projection?
Cartographers use this drawing method-like making a mountain look like a small triangle-to represent real things without using words.
What is a map symbol?
This symbol uses arrows or a star-like design to show North, South, East, and West
What is a compass rose?
To fix the massive size distortions of the Mercator map, this 20th-century equal-area projection was introduced to show the true relative sizes of continents, making Africa and South America look much longer and larger.
What is the Gall-Peters projection?
To find an exact city on a map, you must use this to find a location.
What is the grid?