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Map Projection Activity Sheet

This document provides information about three common map projections: Mercator, Robinson, and Interrupted. It describes the key characteristics of each projection: - The Mercator projection shows correct shapes but distorts sizes, especially at the poles. It has straight lines of latitude and longitude. - The Robinson projection shows correct sizes but distorts some shapes. It has curved lines of longitude and straight lines of latitude. - The Interrupted projection shows correct shapes and sizes over most areas, similar to a globe. Distances are difficult to determine because some areas appear split. The document includes questions to test the reader's understanding of the different projections. It also provides additional details about the Merc

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1K views2 pages

Map Projection Activity Sheet

This document provides information about three common map projections: Mercator, Robinson, and Interrupted. It describes the key characteristics of each projection: - The Mercator projection shows correct shapes but distorts sizes, especially at the poles. It has straight lines of latitude and longitude. - The Robinson projection shows correct sizes but distorts some shapes. It has curved lines of longitude and straight lines of latitude. - The Interrupted projection shows correct shapes and sizes over most areas, similar to a globe. Distances are difficult to determine because some areas appear split. The document includes questions to test the reader's understanding of the different projections. It also provides additional details about the Merc

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api-665170814
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Maps: Introduction: Name___________________

Read the information below about map projections. Then complete the “Which Type”
questions at the bottom of the page.
Maps have been used by explorers for centuries to navigate around the world. Because the
world is a sphere, a globe is the best way to represent the earth. However, it is not practical for
explorers to carry globes on their travels so map makers, called “Cartographers” create flat
maps to represent the earth. This is a difficult task as flattening a round object causes wrinkles,
rips and folds. Over the years many map variations have been developed called map
“projections”. Each projection shows the earth in a different way. Depending on the projection, a
map will have distortions in either the size, direction or shape of items on the map. Because of
these distortions, different maps are used for different uses. Although thousands of maps have
been developed over the centuries, there are three common projections used today. They are
the Mercator, Robinson and Interrupted Projections.
Mercator Projection Robinson Projection Interrupted Projection

A Mercator Projection shows A Robinson Projection of the An Interrupted Projection


the correct shapes of land globe shows the sizes of the looks like an orange peel. This
areas on the earth. The sizes land and water areas correctly, projection shows correct
of some areas are distorted, but the shapes are distorted in shapes and sizes of most land
especially near the North and some areas. On a Robinson and water almost as
South poles. On a Mercator projection, lines of latitude are accurately as a globe does.
projection, the lines of latitude shown as straight lines, while Distances are hard to
and longitude are straight lines of longitude are curved. determine on an interrupted
lines. These lines help show The Robinson projection is projection because some land
the true compass directions; good for measuring distances and water areas appear split,
North, South, East and West. and sizes. or broken up.

Complete the “Which Type” questions below by indicating the correct map projection.
Mercator - Robinson - Interrupted
1 – Which map projection shows curved lines of longitude? ________________________
2 – Which map projection has split land and ocean areas? ________________________
3 – Which map projection shows the correct sizes, but not shapes? _____________________
4 – Which map projection shows the true compass directions? _____________________
5 – Which map projection shows the correct shapes, but not sizes? _____________________
6 – Which map projection is almost as accurate as a globe? _____________________
GES - Activity
Maps: Introduction: Name___________________
Read through the Mercator map information below. Then complete the activities.
The Mercator Projection is a "cylindrical projection" developed in 1569 by cartographer
Gerardus Mercator. It became the standard map projection for nautical purposes because of its
ability to represent direction as straight line segments. While the scale is equal in all directions
around any point on the map, the Mercator Projection distorts the size of objects as you move
north or south away from the equator. Mercator Projection
80° Lat 80° Lat
Greenland
Alaska

60° Lat Asia 60° Lat


Europe
40° Lat USA 40° Lat

20° Lat 20° Lat


Africa
0° Lat 0° Lat
S America
20° Lat 20° Lat
Australia
40° Lat 40° Lat

60° Lat 60° Lat

80° Lat 80° Lat


Complete the following activities using colored pencils and the map above.
1 – Color the Equator (0° lat) line green.
2 – Color Africa and Greenland red on the map above..
3 – Now color Africa and Greenland red on the Actual Size
diagram to the right.

Africa
4 – Color Alaska and Australia blue on the map above. Greenland

5 – Now color Alaska and Australia blue on the


diagrams to the right. Actual Size
6 – How do the actual sizes compare to the Mercator Map?
Australia
_______________________________________________ Alaska
_______________________________________________
GES - Activity

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