EONS LEARNING

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  • About Us
  • Classroom
    • Resources >
      • Study Skills
      • Periodic Table
      • Common Ion Sheet
      • The Scientific Method
      • Doing Background Research
    • Introduction and Course Philosophy
    • Unit 1: Beginning Chemistry >
      • Lesson 1: The Atom >
        • What is an Atom?
        • The Structure of Atoms
        • The Periodic Table
        • Modeling Atoms
      • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding >
        • Why Do Atoms Form Bonds?
        • Ionic Bonding
        • Covalent Bonding
        • Intermolecular Attraction
      • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature >
        • Octet Rule
        • Ionic Compounds
        • Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 4: Molecular Molecules >
        • Modeling Ionic Compounds
        • Modeling Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 5: States of Matter >
        • States of Matter
        • Phase Changes
      • Lesson 6: Density >
        • What is Density?
        • Calculating Density
      • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics >
        • Temperature
        • Heat
        • Gas Laws
      • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry >
        • Diffusion
        • Solutions and Molarity
        • Semi-Permeable Membranes
      • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion >
        • Thermal Expansion
    • Unit 2: Earth Science >
      • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance >
        • Perspective
        • Maps
      • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth >
        • Layers of the Earth
      • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics
      • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals >
        • Rocks and Minerals
      • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting >
        • Differentiation
        • Deposition of Sediment
      • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere >
        • Composition of the Atmosphere
        • Layers of the Atmosphere
        • Change Over Time
        • Atmospheric Disruption
    • Unit 3: The Cell >
      • Lesson 16: Life >
        • What is Life?
        • Structural Hierarchy of Living Things
      • Lesson 17: Biochemistry >
        • Intro to Biochemistry
        • Water
        • Micromolecules
        • Energy, Carbohydrates, Lipids
        • Protein and Nucleic Acid
      • Lesson 18: Cells >
        • What are Cells?
        • Microscopy
        • Plant and Animal Cells
      • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport >
        • A Special Environment
        • The Structure of Membranes
        • Membrane Transport
      • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration >
        • Energy in Biology
        • Energy Diagrams
        • Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
        • Aerobic Cellular Respiration
      • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis >
        • Plants Get Energy From The Sun
        • Photosynthesis Process
        • Energy, Ecosystems, and the Environment
    • Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology >
      • Lesson 22: The Human Body >
        • What Are Bodies Made Of?
        • What Do Bodies Do?
      • Lesson 23: The Nervous System >
        • The Nervous System
        • Neuronal Communication
        • The Central Nervous System
      • Lesson 24: The Endocrine System >
        • The Endocrine System
        • Hormones
        • Hormones, Puberty, and Reproduction
      • Lesson 25: The Integumentary System >
        • The Integumentary System
      • Lesson 26: The Musculoskeletal System >
        • The Skeletal System
        • The Muscular System
        • Anatomy Of The Musculoskeletal System
      • Lesson 27: The Cardiovascular System >
        • Blood and Blood Vessels
        • The Heart
      • Lesson 28: The Respiratory System >
        • The Respiratory System
      • Lesson 29: The Digestive System >
        • The Digestive System
        • Nutrition
      • Lesson 30: The Excretory System >
        • The Excretory System
      • Lesson 31: The Immune System >
        • Disease and Infection
        • Immunity
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Workbench
    • Unit 1 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 1: Atoms
        • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding
        • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature
        • Lesson 4: Molecular Models
        • Lesson 5: States of Matter
        • Lesson 6: Density
        • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics
        • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry
        • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion
      • Unit 1: Project
      • Unit 1: Exam Review
      • Unit 1: Exam
    • Unit 2 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance
        • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth
        • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics
        • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals
        • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting
        • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere
      • Unit 2: Project
      • Unit 2: Exam Review
      • Unit 2: Exam
    • Unit 3 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 16: Life
        • Lesson 17: Biochemsitry
        • Lesson 18: Cells
        • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport
        • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration
        • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis
      • Unit 3: Project
      • Unit 3: Exam Review
      • Unit 3: Exam
    • Unit 4 >
      • EIS >
        • 22: The Human Body
        • 23: The Nervous System
        • 24: The Endocrine System
        • 25: The Integumentary System
        • 26: The Musculoskeletal System
        • 27: The Cardiovascular System
        • 28: The Respiratory System
        • 29: The Digestive System
        • 30: The Excretory System
        • 31: The Immune System
      • Unit 4 Project
      • Unit 4 Exam Review
      • Unit 4 Exam
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Donate
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Classroom
    • Resources >
      • Study Skills
      • Periodic Table
      • Common Ion Sheet
      • The Scientific Method
      • Doing Background Research
    • Introduction and Course Philosophy
    • Unit 1: Beginning Chemistry >
      • Lesson 1: The Atom >
        • What is an Atom?
        • The Structure of Atoms
        • The Periodic Table
        • Modeling Atoms
      • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding >
        • Why Do Atoms Form Bonds?
        • Ionic Bonding
        • Covalent Bonding
        • Intermolecular Attraction
      • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature >
        • Octet Rule
        • Ionic Compounds
        • Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 4: Molecular Molecules >
        • Modeling Ionic Compounds
        • Modeling Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 5: States of Matter >
        • States of Matter
        • Phase Changes
      • Lesson 6: Density >
        • What is Density?
        • Calculating Density
      • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics >
        • Temperature
        • Heat
        • Gas Laws
      • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry >
        • Diffusion
        • Solutions and Molarity
        • Semi-Permeable Membranes
      • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion >
        • Thermal Expansion
    • Unit 2: Earth Science >
      • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance >
        • Perspective
        • Maps
      • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth >
        • Layers of the Earth
      • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics
      • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals >
        • Rocks and Minerals
      • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting >
        • Differentiation
        • Deposition of Sediment
      • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere >
        • Composition of the Atmosphere
        • Layers of the Atmosphere
        • Change Over Time
        • Atmospheric Disruption
    • Unit 3: The Cell >
      • Lesson 16: Life >
        • What is Life?
        • Structural Hierarchy of Living Things
      • Lesson 17: Biochemistry >
        • Intro to Biochemistry
        • Water
        • Micromolecules
        • Energy, Carbohydrates, Lipids
        • Protein and Nucleic Acid
      • Lesson 18: Cells >
        • What are Cells?
        • Microscopy
        • Plant and Animal Cells
      • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport >
        • A Special Environment
        • The Structure of Membranes
        • Membrane Transport
      • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration >
        • Energy in Biology
        • Energy Diagrams
        • Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
        • Aerobic Cellular Respiration
      • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis >
        • Plants Get Energy From The Sun
        • Photosynthesis Process
        • Energy, Ecosystems, and the Environment
    • Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology >
      • Lesson 22: The Human Body >
        • What Are Bodies Made Of?
        • What Do Bodies Do?
      • Lesson 23: The Nervous System >
        • The Nervous System
        • Neuronal Communication
        • The Central Nervous System
      • Lesson 24: The Endocrine System >
        • The Endocrine System
        • Hormones
        • Hormones, Puberty, and Reproduction
      • Lesson 25: The Integumentary System >
        • The Integumentary System
      • Lesson 26: The Musculoskeletal System >
        • The Skeletal System
        • The Muscular System
        • Anatomy Of The Musculoskeletal System
      • Lesson 27: The Cardiovascular System >
        • Blood and Blood Vessels
        • The Heart
      • Lesson 28: The Respiratory System >
        • The Respiratory System
      • Lesson 29: The Digestive System >
        • The Digestive System
        • Nutrition
      • Lesson 30: The Excretory System >
        • The Excretory System
      • Lesson 31: The Immune System >
        • Disease and Infection
        • Immunity
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Workbench
    • Unit 1 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 1: Atoms
        • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding
        • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature
        • Lesson 4: Molecular Models
        • Lesson 5: States of Matter
        • Lesson 6: Density
        • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics
        • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry
        • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion
      • Unit 1: Project
      • Unit 1: Exam Review
      • Unit 1: Exam
    • Unit 2 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance
        • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth
        • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics
        • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals
        • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting
        • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere
      • Unit 2: Project
      • Unit 2: Exam Review
      • Unit 2: Exam
    • Unit 3 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 16: Life
        • Lesson 17: Biochemsitry
        • Lesson 18: Cells
        • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport
        • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration
        • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis
      • Unit 3: Project
      • Unit 3: Exam Review
      • Unit 3: Exam
    • Unit 4 >
      • EIS >
        • 22: The Human Body
        • 23: The Nervous System
        • 24: The Endocrine System
        • 25: The Integumentary System
        • 26: The Musculoskeletal System
        • 27: The Cardiovascular System
        • 28: The Respiratory System
        • 29: The Digestive System
        • 30: The Excretory System
        • 31: The Immune System
      • Unit 4 Project
      • Unit 4 Exam Review
      • Unit 4 Exam
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Donate

Maps: Modeling Earth's Surface

Maps As Models

Whether or not you realize it, we use models almost every day. That is especially true in the sciences. One of the most commonly used models is a map. As with all other models, a map must be:

  1. Accurate. The map must correctly show where something is located relative to other things.
  2. Drawn to scale. The distances between things on the map should reflect the actual distances. For example, 1 inch on the map might equal 1 mile in real life. This requires a little bit of math (ratios) to figure out, but it is what makes the map accurate.

Together, these features make your map useful. These handy little drawings, whether on your smartphone or good old-fashioned paper, have been helping people get around and understand their world since the early days of civilization.

Maps are really important. You probably know that if you’ve ever been lost or just never bothered to learn how to get around because your smartphone will tell you where to go. From this very practical perspective, maps tell us where to go, how to get there, and (on a good map) what sort of challenges you may face along the way, like a giant mountain or a traffic jam.

Maps are also important in a more philosophical sense. Today, we have the advantage of global positioning satellites and astronauts in space to give us a full view of the Earth from above, so we can be quite certain what the Earth looks like. But, this wasn’t always the case, and especially back before the days of worldwide airplane travel when people can actually go see the rest of the world for themselves, people’s worldview was largely shaped by the maps they had at their disposal. And, those maps were limited by the vantage point of the people who created them, down on the ground and unable to travel particularly far. That’s why misconceptions like “the world is flat” or “our country is the center of everything” stuck around for so long. Science matters, guys.

Maps are also mostly wrong. Just like our models of the atom are great and useful and important, they are ultimately just that—models. If you think you know what the world looks like based on flat maps, check out this video for a new perspective:
​

Why Are Maps Wrong?

Even with our luxury of being able to see the world perfectly from space, it is impossible to translate a spherical map onto a flat piece of paper without some distortion. Most maps that you’ve ever seen make the northernmost and southernmost bits of the world look a lot bigger than they actually are. This is called polar distortion or polar size distortion. From a political perspective, this is a problem because it just so happens that most political and economic power is situated in the North (Europe, North America, much of Asia), whereas the less economically-sound places like Africa and South America are closer to the equator. So, it seems political (and rude) to make their countries/continents smaller on a map than they actually are in comparison to the rest of the world. 

Many have tried to solve this important geometrical problem with better maps. These are the most common shapes of maps, along with their pros and cons:
Picture
Naturally, the best solution to all of these problems is to use a globe. But, that’s still not perfect.
Picture

What's the Use in Maps if They're All Wrong?

Despite all of the flaws in maps, and even though one map will never be a perfect representation of everything we could possible want to know about the world (after all, the world is big and complicated and has a lot of things going on in it), maps are still really useful. They convey the most important information that we want out of our map, whether that’s where a country’s borders are, where I can anticipate hills along a hiking trail, where I can find the nearest lake, how long it’ll take me to get home in traffic, and so on. It all just depends on the type of map you choose to use.

Here are some common examples:
​
Picture

​There are also maps that show other things. Some examples include economic maps, climate maps, resource maps, road maps, and traffic maps. Each shows the information that will be important to the person who chooses to use that map, and each will have other flaws because, after all, nobody’s perfect.

Summary

At the end of the day, all of these maps are just models. They are smaller versions of the real world, and that’s what makes it important to draw them correctly.

You should understand:
  • That maps are imperfect models and that there are pros and cons to every model of the Earth
  • That the usefulness of a map relies on it being accurate and drawn to scale.
  • The unique features of political, physical, and topographical maps.

Learning Activity

Picture
lesson 11: layers of the earth
lesson 10: Earth at a glance eis

Content contributors: Emma Moulton
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