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Maps . a model or representation of the Earth’s surface . Eratosthenes. Greek mathematician who calculated the Earth’s circumference in ~240 BC using geometry and observation, his observations made more than 2,000 years ago were off by 6250 km => only 15%!. Finding direction on the Earth.
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Maps • a model or representation of the Earth’s surface
Eratosthenes • Greek mathematician who calculated the Earth’s circumference in ~240 BC • using geometry and observation, his observations made more than 2,000 years ago were off by 6250 km => only 15%!
Reference point • a fixed place on the Earth’s surface from which direction and location can be described
Axis • an imaginary line through the earth about which the planet rotates
North Pole • north end of the axis
South Pole • south end of the axis
Cardinal directions • north, south, east, west and various combinations of these directions
“North on top” • is arbitrary • Europeans – placed east on “top” to show the importance of Jerusalem to their faith • Chinese – placed south on “top” as nothing of interest to them was to the north
Compass • uses the natural magnetism of the Earth to indicate direction • compass needle points to the magnetic north pole • the Earth has 2 different sets of poles => geographic poles and magnetic poles • magnetic poles have a slightly different location than the geographic poles
True North • geographic North Pole • never changes position • the difference between magnetic north and true north (geographic north pole) requires a calculation
Magnetic Declination • is measured in degrees east or west of true north • has been determined for different points on the earth’s surface • when the declination of an area is known, a compass can be used to determine true north
Latitude (parallels) • imaginary lines drawn around the earth parallel to the equator • definition – the distance north or south, measured in degrees, from the equator • North Pole 90 degrees N 90°N • South Pole 90 degrees S 90°S
Equator • an imaginary line half way between the poles that divides the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere
Longitude (meridians) • imaginary lines that pass through the poles • are not parallel • definition – is the distance east or west, measured in degrees, from the Prime Meridian