2006-09-27 00:03:19 · 6 answers · asked by I s 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Because the planet is more or less round and the map is flat. It is not possible to make a flat map of a curved surface without some distortion.
2006-09-27 00:11:33 · answer #1 · answered by mrslititia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the world is round (3D) and maps are flat (2D).
Imagine peeling an orange all in one go - it wouldn't lie flat and they'd be gaps.
So flat maps have to distort - with the effect that the poles are made exaggeratedly large and equatorial regions smaller. So latitudes such as European countires are exaggerated and Africa is made far too small (for historic reasons).
There are other 'projections' available which are surprsingly different but none are truly 'correct' and capable of being folded up flat.
2006-09-27 00:15:40 · answer #2 · answered by timwatt2001 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because you are taking a round object (earth) and attempting to show it on a flat surface (the map) some distortion is unavoidable
2006-09-27 18:54:18 · answer #3 · answered by krisr22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maps distorted because always are been transformed from 3-D means from a global,ellipsoid,sphere to 2-D Which means flat or really world which involves longitude and latitude as well as X-Axis to Y-Axis
2016-02-29 05:50:30 · answer #4 · answered by Samwel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Download Google Earth. its free. you prolly find yourself why maps are distorted.
2006-09-27 00:18:31 · answer #5 · answered by LemonPro 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
becuase ur turning a round cirlce to a flat flat disorted cirlce
2015-11-09 14:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Rhodesherdeline 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋