Map Projections and Coordinates Flashcards
Grade 4 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Key geography vocabulary for understanding map projections, coordinate systems, and locating places on Earth.
Flashcards
- Map Projection
- A method used to transfer Earth's curved surface onto a flat map; always causes some distortion
- Cartographer
- A person who designs and makes maps
- Latitude
- Imaginary horizontal lines measuring degrees north or south of the equator (0°)
- Longitude
- Imaginary vertical lines measuring degrees east or west of the prime meridian (0°)
- Equator
- The imaginary line at 0° latitude that circles Earth's middle, dividing it into Northern and Southern Hemispheres
- Prime Meridian
- The imaginary line at 0° longitude passing through Greenwich, England; the starting point for east-west measurements
- Coordinates
- A set of latitude and longitude values pinpointing an exact location on Earth
- Hemisphere
- One half of Earth; the equator divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres
- Mercator Projection
- A map projection that preserves direction but distorts size near the poles, making polar regions look larger
- Robinson Projection
- A map projection designed to balance shape, size, distance, and area distortions across the whole world
- Distortion
- Inaccurate representation of shape, size, distance, or direction that occurs when Earth is shown on a flat map
- Degree
- A unit used to measure latitude and longitude; a full circle has 360 degrees
- Globe
- A spherical model of Earth that shows shapes and sizes accurately, with no map distortion
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