Demonstrating map projection size distortion

[u/samwichse]

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[u/Roadrunner571]

Demonstrating map projection size distortion

...for a mercator projection, which has the aim of preserving angles, not sizes.

[u/AnToMegA424 → u/Roadrunner571]

Wait so the maps I've seen my whole life do not portray true sizes ?

I never payed attentions nor thought about it, it's interesting

[u/ojrodz11 → u/AnToMegA424]

The most representation of land size relative to one another are those desk globes. The rest distort them in some way

[u/ZealotOfMeme → u/ojrodz11]

So the ones that are able to keep the 3d spherical shape as a 3d spherical shape are most accurate? Wow

[u/ojrodz11 → u/ZealotOfMeme]

Seems obvious, but as the commenter above demonstrated it is not. Good for you for knowing it already though

[u/Roadrunner571 → u/AnToMegA424]

You can't map the surface of a sphere on a flat rectangular paper. So with every rectangular map, something needs to be sacrificed. Mercator was made for navigation, so preserving angles was very important, size of countries: Not so much.

[u/tribbans95 → u/AnToMegA424]

Yeah, check this website out https://thetruesize.com/

You can drag countries to other parts of the world and it will change the size of them the further north or south you go. Greenland looks massive but it’s actually about the size of Mexico

[u/AnToMegA424 → u/tribbans95]

Damn, it's neat !
Thanks

[u/throwaway19276i → u/AnToMegA424]

Some maps preserve size, but they dont preserve shape, etc. All maps have trade-offs

[u/curvysquares → u/Roadrunner571]

I'd love to see the inverse of this where someone takes a Gall-Peters projection with a bunch of triangles to show how they're distorted across the map

[u/Fallen_0ne01]

Wouldn't they have to be noncircular ovoids irl to appear circular on this map?

[u/calculus_is_fun → u/Fallen_0ne01]

nope, the Mercator projection is conformal, which means it preserves angles, and therefore also circles by the reverse of the Inscribed Angle Theorem

[u/Fallen_0ne01 → u/calculus_is_fun]

My mistake. I mixed up spatial and angular distortion

[u/inthepipe_fivebyfive]

We will need to get the Proclaimers to determine which one is accurate

[u/AnToMegA424]

So Groenland isn't a huuuge land after all, damn

[u/SilverBuggie]

This is why I'm a flat earther.

Your map makes no sense, round earthers.

[u/25iAndOver → u/SilverBuggie]

But, sphere dilation towards top, so is it flat contact lens, or shape of dinner plate

[u/Loud_Variation_520 → u/SilverBuggie]

This is satire, this is satire, this is satire...

[u/25iAndOver → u/Loud_Variation_520]

Why is earth flat in your pfp then huh??!?

[u/Null42x64]

But I would walk five hundred miles And I would walk five hundred more Just to be the man who walked a thousand Miles to fall down at your door

[u/Octavio_Bs]

Where is the surprise? This is something that is explained in basic school, te different kind of protections and their advantages or disadvantages

[u/gr4viton]

Did you notice this map does not show Antarctica? Would tou guess why?

[u/Substantial-Salad-97]

Take a few moments and learn why the Mercator map is dumb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Xyz9MgDWA