They distort the surface because they are flat, while the surface is not.
The Mercator projection used for maps distorts the size and shape of large objects as the scale increases from the Equator to the poles where it becomes infinite. Whereas areas near the equator have little or no distortion, a latitude greater than 70 degrees has too much distortion to be useful.
One advantage to using a globe is that you can more accurately determine distances than you can with a flat map. Flat maps distort the spherical surface and that distortion can be significant over long distances.
Maps are a projection on a flat surface (2 dimensional) of a sphere (3 dimensional). They are therefore a best compromise to aid understanding of the relationships of position of the various continents and oceans.
A topographic map shows the three dimensions of the earths surface.
people who make maps of the earth's surface are called, cartographers.
One advantage to using a globe is that you can more accurately determine distances than you can with a flat map. Flat maps distort the spherical surface and that distortion can be significant over long distances.
Since the world is round, flat maps (rectangular maps) distort the sizes of continents by making them larger than they actually are.
Since the world is round, flat maps (rectangular maps) distort the sizes of continents by making them larger than they actually are.
The Mercator projection used for maps distorts the size and shape of large objects as the scale increases from the Equator to the poles where it becomes infinite. Whereas areas near the equator have little or no distortion, a latitude greater than 70 degrees has too much distortion to be useful.
One advantage to using a globe is that you can more accurately determine distances than you can with a flat map. Flat maps distort the spherical surface and that distortion can be significant over long distances.
yes
All flat maps do, globes do not.
The surface of the earth is the outside of a sphere, whereas the pages of an atlas are flat. Right there, you have the fundamental problem common to all maps ... how best to represent a curved surface on a flat picture. The answer is: In order to select one characteristic to depict accurately, you have to distort most everything else.
DIRECTION
Maps
One advantage to using a globe is that you can more accurately determine distances than you can with a flat map. Flat maps distort the spherical surface and that distortion can be significant over long distances.
because there has to be some kind of distortion of earths spherical shape