2007-09-23 02:59:26 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Because the Earth isn't flat anymore.
UPDATE: They found out it's actually an oblate spheroid, so the distortion can be accounted for by considering the curvature of the land.
2007-09-23 03:02:23 · answer #1 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Since the earth is round, and all maps except globes are flat, paper maps are represented by a "projection" of the earth onto the flat surface. A totally rectangular map has the greatest distortion, and the map that has the world represented as a globe "opened up" and flattened out has the least.
Online programs that can represent the earth as a globe have the least distortion of any flat-projected map.
Have a nice read about different projections here:
http://geology.isu.edu/geostac/Field_Exercise/topomaps/distortion.htm
2007-09-23 10:03:58 · answer #2 · answered by Barry B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the earth is a sphere, and whenever you try to squash and squeeze a sphere on to a piece of flat paper, you get distortion.
Basically, although there are many different types of earth maps, all of them are distorted somewhere.
2007-09-23 10:02:40 · answer #3 · answered by Superconductive Magnet 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because you show a 3d object on a 2d piece of paper without having some distortions. For it to be totally correct, you have to use a globe, as it is a 3d object.
2007-09-23 10:03:11 · answer #4 · answered by Mako 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
becuase if you were to show the actual size of earth and distances between places, u would need a map the size of the earth
and it aint flat
2007-09-23 10:02:30 · answer #5 · answered by Jazz 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Such distortions are usually mountains, deserts, or even water.
2007-09-23 10:03:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because a round earth
doesnot translate well into a flat surface
2007-09-23 10:02:48 · answer #7 · answered by jibrilz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Columbus was right
2007-09-23 10:04:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋