1. Understanding the Physical World
Chapter 1: Section 2
Understanding the Physical World

2. Lesson Questions Why have mapmakers created different projections?
What are the four major landforms?
What factors influence climate?

3. Tools of Geographers Globes are historically more accurate than maps.
It represents the true size of oceans and land masses.
However, carrying a globe in your glove compartment or in your pocket can become quite difficult!
Since maps are flat that distort the size of Earth’s land masses.

4. Mercator Projection
The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection presented by the Flemish geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator, in 1569.
Provides easy use for direction.
Good proportion at equator but not North and South.

5. Interrupted Projection
Shows the correct sizes of landmasses by cutting out pieces of the ocean.
The downside is measuring distances across oceans nearly impossible.

6. Peters Projection
Peters Projection provides correct areas of landmasses and oceans. Directions are also accurate.
Downside is that Africa and South America seem longer and thinner than they truly are.

7. Robinson Projection
Shows the correct sizes and shapes of most landmasses. It gives fairly accurate view of sizes and oceans.
Its distortion is located more along the edges.

8. Special- Purpose Maps Topographic maps show physical features.
Can sometimes be raised proportional to their size.
Political maps shows borders of countries.
Vegetative maps can show different shades of color depending on foliage.
Maps and Culture
Some maps show ethnocentrism. That is they focus on their country as the center of the world or make it appear bigger.

9. Major Landforms Mountains – high steep rugged land masses
Elevation – height above sea level
Himalayas are the highest peaks in the world.
Hills – less steep than mountains.
Plains – large areas of gently rolling land.
Coastal plains are located along the oceans are good for ports.
Plateaus – areas of high flat land.

10. Climate Zones
Climate – average weather of an area over a period of years.
Directly affected by location near equator and elevation.