Maps and Globes: The Basics
A 2D representation of the Earth
Map
The special line that divides the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres
Equator
The line of longitude at 0 degrees
Prime Meridian
The number of time zones in the world
24
The part of a map that explains what each symbol means
Map Key / Legend
Half of a sphere
Hemisphere
The special line that divides the Earth into eastern and western hemispheres
Prime Meridian
The line of latitude at 23.5 degrees S
Tropic of Capricorn
The time zone that you live in
Central Standard Time (CST)
The part of a map that represents the distance on the map compared to the actual distance in real life
Scale
The seven (7) continents
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America
Another name for lines of longitude
Meridians
The degrees and direction of the Tropic of Cancer
23.5 degrees N
A map that shows landforms and bodies of water
Physical Map
An error or mistake on a map
Distortion
They run east and west, but measure north and south
Lines of Latitude
The degrees and direction of the Antarctic Circle
66 degrees S
The spinning of the Earth on its axis
Elevation Map and Contour Map
The area(s) on a map where the most distortion occurs
Near the North and South Poles
They run north and south, but measure east and west
Lines of Longitude
The special line that marks the boundary between one day and the next
International Dateline
The 6 time zones in the United States
Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaii-Aleutian
The study of map making
Cartography